Experts have warned of a surge of digital abuse across Scotland as technology is weaponised to stalk, control and terrorise women.
Research recently released by the National Police Chief’s Council and charity Refuge suggests 123,000 violent offences against women last year involved technology, up 200% in six years.
Devices including mobile phones, doorbell cameras, and gaming platforms are being deployed to threaten and control women as frontline workers warn tech abuse is an escalating threat.
Police and protection specialists report increasing reports of abusers exploiting technology from apps to streaming services to exert coercive control after relationships have ended.
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Aberlour Children’s Charity, which supports survivors of domestic abuse and their families, warns digital abuse has increased dramatically in recent years with its scale and impact demanding far greater awareness.
The charity’s Emma Kerr, who supports domestic abuse survivors and their families, said: “Not only is there more digital abuse but it is getting increasingly sophisticated.
“Only a few years ago, we would advise women leaving an abusive relationship to check their apps and location sharing permissions, reset phones to factory settings, change passwords and so on.
“Now the technology is evolving so rapidly that such basic security measures are often not enough.
“We’ve seen phones cloned, for example, so calls can be overheard, texts seen, and photos checked. There can be apps hidden on phones secretly relaying information to abusers.
“Men can be monitoring absolutely everything on their former partner’s phones while leaving no trace whatsoever.”
Ms Kerr believes there should be far greater awareness of digital abuse and says combatting the weaponisation of technology is now a priority for support teams.
She said: “The first thing we do with women and children escaping abusive relationships is a risk assessment.
“The priority is securing their physical safety but that now includes the possibility of them being tracked, stalked and harassed through technology.
“We need to ensure families are physically protected in their new location with additional security cameras, lighting, and locks, for example, but securing their digital lives can be just as important.”
The impact of digital abuse isn't limited to adult women.
Children are being contacted and engaged by their estranged and abusive fathers through gaming and streaming platforms, like Xbox, and PlayStation.
Ms Kerr, assistant service manager with Equally Safe, delivering specialist and tailored support in partnership with Falkirk Council and Barnardo’s, said: “Dads will sometimes enter these platforms to contact their children in breach of access order.
“Others will use different names to make a connection and then begin manipulating their children.”
She said women have been shocked to discover their partner or former partner had access to banking apps, shopping accounts, streaming devices, email accounts and location tracking through social media platforms.
Ms Kerr said: “When we are building safety plans, one of our first questions will be what apps do women have and does their partner or former partner know the passwords?
“Most importantly, do they have anything that reveals their location and could their partner or former partner have access to that information?
“Very often, the women have not even thought about their phones being tools of abuse but, when asked, instantly recognise the potential.
“The biggest, most immediate red flag for us when we get a referral through is if the woman shares a phone with her partner.
“Whatever the reason, almost everyone has a phone now and a partner demanding to share one can signal excessive control.”
Ms Kerr said the tech is constantly evolving and abusers are increasingly skilled in finding ways to covertly exert control.
With many apps in the home now linked – Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa beng connected to Ring doorbell cameras for example – the potential for surveillance by former partners exploiting their knowledge of passwords is constantly expanding.
Ms Kerr said: “It is hugely unsettling and can make women, who have found the strength to leave abusive relationships, feel nowhere is safe.
“Their former partners might not be a physical presence inside their homes but to know they have been using electronics to secretly continue their controlling behaviour is disturbing.
“For someone to start recovering from abuse, they need to feel safe and this kind of insidious surveillance makes them feel the opposite.
“Discovering such an invasion of privacy can increase their feelings of being trapped of having nowhere to go.
“It shakes their confidence and reinforces feelings of anxiety and distrust.
“How can women feel secure if they are on edge wondering if their calls and movements are being constantly monitored?”
Police in Scotland have also raised concern about the rising number of reports of abuse, stalking and harassment linked to technology.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Sergeant, lead for domestic abuse, stalking and harassment at Police Scotland, said specialist officers constantly monitored developments in technology to help women stay safe.
He said: “Criminality increasingly takes place in the digital and online space as technology continues to evolve rapidly.
“While the methods may evolve with technology, the impact on victims can be profound and long lasting.”
DCI Sergeant said victims can often be subjected to unwanted calls, texts, or messages but can often suffer unauthorised access to their devices, persistent online harassment, and tracking through apps or shared technology. The unauthorised sharing of intimate images, impersonation, and coercive or controlling behaviour are also increasing.
He said: “Police Scotland works closely with partners to ensure we are prepared to address new and emerging trends in cybercrime.
“We encourage individuals to use strong and unique passwords for important accounts and enable multi-factor authentication where available.”
Specialist officers advise women at risk to regularly review privacy and location-sharing settings on devices and apps, and be cautious about shared access to cloud accounts, smart devices and family subscriptions.
DCI Sergeant said: “It is also important to keep devices and software updated and to review connected devices or accounts that are no longer required.
“Anyone who believes their technology may have been compromised should seek support, where possible do not delete something that may be potential evidence and contact the police.”
Lynne O’Brien, Aberlour’s chief officer of children and families, warned the threat posed to survivors by abuse linked to technology is real and escalating.
She said: “In recent years, our support teams have been increasingly told by women and children that technology is being used to control, harm, and cause fear.
“This is even when women and their children have left an abusive relationship, a time when, we know, they and their families are most at risk.
“It is vital that men are held to account for this digital abuse and that our support includes understanding and mitigating its risks.”
