Safe Technology Use
Safe Technology Use
Understanding Digital Abuse
Digital safety is important for everyone, but especially important for survivors of domestic violence. Digital or technology-facilitated abuse is when an abuser uses technology to harass, threaten, coerce, monitor, exploit, or violate their victims. This can include things like GPS tracking, social media monitoring, spyware downloaded on devices, non-consensual sharing of images, and more. Digital abuse is one more way that an abuser can gain power and control over their victim. Whether that is by ensuring the victim does not go places or talk to people that the abuser limits them from going to or speaking with, accessing their search history to ensure they don’t have access to leave, or instilling fear into the victim by stating that they know what the victim is doing or saying.
Tools Used in Abuse
Technology-facilitated abuse canoccur using a variety of devices. These include cellphones, computers, smart home devices, security systems, GPS, webcams, and more. These tools can be used in a variety of different ways to abuse victims. They can be used to locate, listen to, or watch victims, see who victims are speaking to or what they are saying, monitoractionson apps(what the victim has searched, listened to, watched, liked, etc.), non-consensual sharing of photos ormessages, and more.
Technology Safety Planning for Survivors
While there are many ways to increase digital safety, creating a strategic plan to increase digital safety is important. Oftentimes, when victims learn that they are being digitally abused, the first instinct is to throw away devices or get rid of accounts to make the abuse stop. However, if the abuser feels they have lost access to their victim, controlling and dangerous behavior may escalate. This is why it is important to ensure that victims have a technology safety plan in place prior to making decisions regarding devices and digital safety. Lafeyette House is here to help with technology safety planning for victims.
Common ways toincrease digital safety are:
Reachout to Lafayette House to discuss available services and create a safety plan.
Considerusing a safer device if the abuser isusing a device to track or contact you.
Document and/or report the incidents keep documentation of each incident. You may want to also report incidents to law enforcement.
Check location and privacy settings on devices, apps, social media accounts, etc.
Change passwords and usernames for anything the abuser may be using to locate, contact, or monitor you.
LimitPersonal Informationinonline records. One way to do this is by enrolling in the Safe-At-Home Program, which provides an alternative address to be used in public records. Reach out to Lafayette House to see if you are eligible for this program
Contact Information:
Crisis Line: 1 (800) 416-1772
Main Office: 1 (417) 782-1772
Main Office Address: 1809 S Connor Ave. Joplin, Missouri 64804
Neosho Office: 417-451-6106
Neosho Office: 118 W. Spring St., Neosho, MO, 64850
Website:https://lafayettehouse.org/
Remember, digital abuse is abuse. Lafayette Houseis here to support you withour free, confidential services.
