Changing Lives is a national charity supporting people facing the most challenging of circumstances, including homelessness, addiction, abuse and exploitation, experiences with the criminal justice system, long-term unemployment and more. Two of our services joint forces to conduct research on individuals’ aged 18+ the experiences of technology-facilitated domestic abuse and online harms. The publication of this blogpost also coincides with this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”. For more information, please follow the link: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/theme
Our aim is to shed light on the significant ways that technology can be used to perpetuate cycles of abuse and to establish the prevalence of this issue. By focusing on individuals’ experiences, we hope to raise awareness, advocate for improved safeguarding responses among statutory services, and push for increased protection of victims and survivors in policy and legislation.
Tech abuse refers to ‘(mis)use or repurposing of digital systems to harass, control, coerce, or intimidate another person’[1], and although it is often discussed in terms of domestic abuse, it can be perpetrated in different settings, and for different motives. We created a survey based on the Power & Control Wheel: On Technology & Abuse[2], which was circulated internally to the organisation and externally posted on our social media accounts, and shared with stakeholders. Even though the response rate was low, the results echo existing studies with a larger sample size on the same topic.
Our survey gathered responses from 16 individuals, predominantly aged between 22 and 35. The majority identified as White and female, with a small representation from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller and Black communities. While most participants were heterosexual, a quarter identified as bisexual, highlighting the need to consider LGBTQ+ experiences in tech-facilitated abuse. Geographically, most respondents were based in the North East.
75% of our respondents reported persistent digital contact, including calls, texts, video calls, and social media messaging, whilst 62% disclosed that the perpetrator made fake account to monitor and harass them. In addition, 44% reported the use of tracking and monitoring devices. Other forms of abuse included: unauthorised password changes, audio surveillance via recording devices, and monitoring through CCTV or doorbell cameras.
The majority of respondents (87%) identified the perpetrator as a current or former partner, highlighting the intimate and controlling nature of this abuse. One participant described how their perpetrator created multiple email addresses to bypass blocks and continue unwanted contact. Another shared that intimate images were distributed online without consent, and a third detailed how their perpetrator exploited Gmail location tracking, accessed their WhatsApp, and even parked near their home to use their Wi-Fi for surveillance. In total, 69% reported being threatened with the sharing of private messages or intimate images, a tactic often used to exert control or cause distress.
Our research further highlighted the intersection between tech-facilitated abuse and financial abuse. The most commonly reported tactic, shared by 4 respondents, was tracking or accessing financial accounts, including online banking and Universal Credit journals. 3 respondents reported having their access to online bank accounts controlled or denied, and another 3 described online activity that damaged their credit rating. One participant shared a detailed account of how their perpetrator would change their banking passwords, lock them out of accounts and devices, and then log back in themselves to create the illusion that the respondent was incapable of managing the technology. This same perpetrator would also delete emails and messages, further eroding the victim’s sense of control and access to information.
In terms of reporting tech-facilitated abuse to the police, only 44% of respondents had reported the abuse, highlighting a potential lack of trust or confidence in formal systems of support. Of those who did report, outcomes varied significantly. However, 4 respondents reported that no action was taken, with one explicitly stating they received no follow-up whatsoever. For those who did not feel able to report the abuse to the police, the reasons were deeply personal and often rooted in fear, uncertainty, or lack of trust in the criminal justice system. Access to their children was cited as being used as leverage to prevent them from reporting.
These responses underscore the need for greater awareness, clearer pathways for reporting, and trauma-informed approaches that validate victims’ experiences and reduce the burden of disclosure. When asked if they would like to add anything else, one respondent stated that police and some services do not have adequate understanding of online harm and tech abuse. They stated that:
‘Police do not have the understanding, and in some cases services do not have the understanding of how this can be facilitated, as when you experience it you seem crazy trying to explain to others that because they have access to your email account, they can monitor every webpage you use and even your location in real time. Paranoid about if that is actually the case and feeling gaslit…education on these matters and empowering women to learn how to be safe is not that hard but it is hard to do alone when you don’t understand technology well.’
Ultimately, this research highlights the pervasive and multifaceted nature of tech-facilitated abuse, particularly within the context of intimate relationships. Respondents reported a wide range of harmful behaviours, including digital surveillance, financial control, online threats, and manipulation of technological access and confidence. The abuse often extended into financial systems and personal privacy, with perpetrators exploiting digital tools to isolate, intimidate, and exert control. While some individuals received support after reporting to the police, many were failed by systems put in place to protect them and/ or felt unable to report due to fear, shame, or lack of trust in the system. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved awareness, trauma-informed responses, and accessible support pathways that recognise the complexity of tech-facilitated abuse and its impact on survivors.
More and more domestic abuse organisations are raising awareness of the rise of technology facilitated abuse in an unprecedented rate, along with the use of AI to create deepfake intimate images and so on. In response to this, Refuge has created a Digital Break-up Tool[3] to help individuals review commonly used apps to ensure they remain secure on each digital platform they use. If you or someone you know is affected by tech abuse, please seek support. We have included below a list of organisations that you can reach out to:
- https://revengepornhelpline.org.uk/
- https://stopncii.org/
- https://womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
- https://www.iwf.org.uk/en/uk-report/
- https://refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now/how-we-can-help-you/secure-your-tech/
- https://www.suzylamplugh.org/
- https://safelives.org.uk/about-domestic-abuse/staying-safe-online/
- https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
- https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/
- https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/find-support
[1] Koukopoulos, N., Janickyj, M., & Tanczer, L. (2025). Defining and Conceptualizing Technology-Facilitated Abuse (“Tech Abuse”):
Findings of a Global Delphi Study. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241310465
[2] https://safechatsv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/NNEDV_TechPowerControlWheel_Aug08.pdf
