According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 97% of U.S. domestic violence programs report that survivors have experienced abuse involving technology.
Tech-enabled abuse refers to the use of technology to exert power, control, and intimidation over someone. As technology becomes more advanced and accessible for more people, abusers can have more ways of getting involved in someone’s life, making it harder for survivors to fully escape.
Common forms of tech abuse include:
- Monitoring phone calls, text messages, emails, or internet activity
- Tracking someone’s location through apps, devices, or hidden AirTags
- Accessing smart home systems to remotely control lights, locks, cameras, or thermostats
- Impersonating survivors using fake accounts or AI-generated content
- Threatening to release private or intimate images (“revenge porn”)
Tech abuse can be constant, invasive, and very difficult to spot, often continuing even after a survivor leaves the relationship. Survivors often describe feeling trapped or watched, unable to fully disconnect from the person harming them.
Tech abuse can:
- Isolate survivors, making them doubt their experiences or hesitate to seek help
- Undermine safety plans, especially if devices or locations are being tracked
- Inflict serious psychological harm, including chronic anxiety, sleep disruption, and trauma
In many cases, survivors don’t realize they are being monitored or manipulated until the situation escalates.
A RESPOND client recently shared:
“Even when I left and went to a friend’s house, I never knew if I was really separated from him. What I thought was maybe paranoia on my part, turned out to be real. He had been tracking me all along.” —Shae
How to Stay Safer Online
If you or someone you know suspects tech-enabled abuse, there are steps that can reduce risk:
- Change all passwords, especially for email, social media, and financial accounts; enable two-factor authentication
- Review devices for unfamiliar apps or suspicious settings that could indicate spyware
- Turn off location sharing in apps, and avoid checking in on social media
- Use secure devices (like a friend’s phone or a public computer) when researching support or resources
- Disconnect or reset smart home devices, if it’s safe to do so
- Document unusual activity, including dates, screenshots, and any related messages, this could be helpful if trying to secure a restraining order
- Call RESPOND for help, we provide tailored, personalized support so that we can help you plan safely
RESPOND’s Approach and the Road Ahead
At RESPOND, we are committed to staying ahead of emerging forms of abuse, including the growing use of AI voice cloning, smart devices, and other advanced tools to stalk or harass survivors. Our counselors are constantly being trained, and we are remaining updated on any and all things tech-related abuse. Whether you are a survivor, advocate, or ally, understanding tech-enabled abuse is the first step in disrupting it. We are here to help you.
Abuse evolves with the times. So must our tools, our awareness, and our response.
If you’re experiencing tech-related abuse by a partner, that IS domestic violence. Please call RESPOND if you need help, or if you have any concerns or questions. Our Support line is available M-F 9am-5pm at (617) 623- 5900.
