Connected devices like baby monitors and smart speakers, once hailed for their convenience, are increasingly becoming tools for surveilling, harassing, and controlling victims of domestic abuse, warn Members of Parliament (MPs). As the phenomenon of “tech abuse” continues to grow, the UK government is being pressed to take stronger measures to counteract its impact and safeguard victims.
With an average of nine connected devices in every UK household and projections estimating 24 billion interconnected devices globally by 2050, the issue of tech abuse has taken center stage. A report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee reveals that a significant majority of domestic abuse cases now involve some form of cyber element. Perpetrators exploit spyware to monitor victims’ movements, record audio, and capture images, magnifying the horrors of domestic abuse.
