New Tech Gadgets are Making it Harder to Escape Domestic Abuse
Anti-violence experts are raising concerns about the growing issue of digital intimate partner violence, which often starts when a relationship ends. Smartphones, connected homes, and digitally equipped cars are being used as tools for surveillance and harassment, exacerbating intimate partner violence in Canada, often referred to as a "shadow pandemic." This type of abuse intensified during COVID-19 lockdowns when victims had limited options to leave their abusers.
A recent Statistics Canada report revealed an increase in police-reported family violence, with an alarming rate of victims and frequent intimate partner homicides. Technology has been integrated into everyday life during the pandemic, leading to the rise of digital intimate partner violence. Abusers are using technology to exert power and control, including tracking victims' movements, posting harmful content online, and impersonating or threatening them through various digital means.
The study highlights the need for law enforcement and the legal system to take stalking and technology-facilitated abuse seriously. Victims often feel unheard, and existing laws must be applied to the digital context to protect those affected. Advocates call for better support, coordination, and accountability in addressing technology-facilitated gender-based violence, emphasizing the importance of standardized access to victim support services across Canada. They also point out that victims' access to help should not depend on their location, particularly in remote and rural communities. The Canadian government recently released a national action plan to address gender-based violence, which acknowledges technology-facilitated violence as a significant issue but has faced criticism for lacking specific commitments to support victims effectively.
