Technology as a Weapon in Domestic Violence: Responding to Digital Coercive Control

ABSTRACT

Technology-facilitated domestic violence is an emerging issue for social workers and other service providers. The concept of Digital Coercive Control (DCC) is introduced to highlight the particular nature and impacts of technology-facilitated abuse in the context of domestic violence. While practitioners have become more adept at working with women experiencing DCC, there is still little known about its dynamics and whether this violence requires a change in current service responses. This article explores findings from survey research conducted with 546 Australian domestic violence practitioners about the ways perpetrators use technology as part of their abuse tactics. The findings demonstrate that DV practitioners believe perpetrator use of technology is extensive and has significant impacts on the safety of clients. A major dilemma faced by practitioners is how to promote and facilitate client safety from DCC while still enabling safe use of technology so clients can remain connected to family, friends, and community.

IMPLICATIONS

• The use of digital technology in domestic violence creates a significant practice issue for Australian domestic violence practitioners.

• The development of a practice framework for responding to digital coercive control may assist practitioners to highlight the risks posed by this abuse, while still enabling women and children the freedom to participate in the digital realm.

乘技术之便的家庭暴力，对于社会工作者和其他服务提供者来说是个新问题。“数字强制”的概念凸显了这类暴力的性质及影响。实践工作者更谙熟于女性经历的数字强制，但对其动因以及目前服务机构是否需要以变化应对这类暴力则知之甚少。作者调查了546位澳大利亚家暴工作人员，以了解嫌犯如何使用技术作为犯罪手段。家暴工作者认为嫌犯对技术的利用非常广泛，对被害者的安全造成的影响非常明显。工作人员面临的主要困境在于如何一方面使受害者免遭数字强制，一方面保证技术的安全使用，让受害者与家人、友人及社区保持联系。

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic Violence
• Technology-facilitated Abuse
• Digital Coercive Control
• Coercive Control

Acknowledgments

The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not represent the views of ACCAN, the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria, Women's Legal Service NSW and the Women's Services Network (WESNET).

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) grant scheme, 2015.