UCL’s Gender and Tech Research Project shapes policy debate around future of connected technology

15 August 2023

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee have called on the Government to make tackling tech abuse a priority, following evidence presented by UCL which highlighted how connected tech is facilitating domestic abuse, with most domestic abuse cases having a cyber element.

1.5million domestic abuse incidents are recorded in England and Wales every year, with most cases featuring a cyber element. Tech abuse, and how it surfaces in response to violence against women and girls, is being increasingly recognised by the Government as an issue for both concern and action. Various consultations and policy developments in recent years have sought to acknowledge emerging risks related to this issue, including the 2022 National Cyber Strategy, Home Office Domestic Abuse Inquiry, Consumer IoT Security Code of Practice, and Online Safety Bill.

Principle Investigator for the Gender and Internet of Things (IoT) Research Project at UCL, Dr Leonie Tanczer, has played a pivotal role in helping to shape thinking in this area, contributing to these policy debates through new research and the collective thought leadership and expertise of UCL’s wider project team including researchers from STEaPP (UCL Dept of Science, Tech, Engineering and Public Policy.)

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee established the Connected Technology Inquiry in 2022, seeking to understand the most important developments and risks in this field.

While Technology-Facilitated Domestic Abuse (TFDA) was not explicitly referenced in the original consultation questions, the responses and evidence received on TFDA was so impactful that one of the Report’s three chapters was dedicated entirely to this area, as were a number of formal recommendations. Dr Tanczer’s contributions were fundamental in shaping this, she provided written evidence to the Committee, appeared as a witness to an oral evidence session, and engaged with officials throughout the Inquiry. The Report recognises her contributions and directly references her evidence at multiple points.

Of particular note, the report referenced Dr Tanczer’s views on how perpetrators no longer need to be physically present to coerce and control victims and survivors, that tech abuse enables perpetrators to harass and stalk them remotely. Victims and survivors need proper support to manage this threat, considering elements such as whether their smartwatch is still enabling their location to be tracked – or whether accessing their Netflix account from a refuge may enable their perpetrator to find where they are. Having worked with international partners, Dr Tanczer was able to offer examples of potential solutions – such as exemplifying the role of the Australian Office of the eSafety Commissioner, and how the UK may be able to learn from this in terms of how support services are provided.

Dr Tanczer supplied evidence relating to the changing risk profile of TFDA and recommended to the Committee that a new approach was needed around data strategy, and support from Industry partners. The Committee accepted all of these points, and this is reflected in the formal recommendations – which include the call for a new Tech Abuse Working Group to be created involving industry and academics, as well as a new data strategy to inform future policy response in this area.

Chair of the Select Committee, Dame Caroline Dineage, commented that;

“The surge in use of devices such as smart home security systems, baby monitors, cameras and smart speakers to monitor, harass, coerce and control victims of domestic abuse is truly chilling.

The Government must make it a priority to work with manufacturers to tackle this technology-facilitated abuse, which is only going to get worse in the future. The police and criminal justice system must be better equipped to deal with it, while victims should be properly supported.”

A Government response is expected before October 2023. UCL’s Gender and IoT Research Project Team, with support from STEaPP’s Policy Impact Unit, look forward to continued engagement with Government as they shape their response – and for any future policy or operational changes which may follow to better support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

Further reading:

Culture, Media and Sport Committee – Full Report and recommendations

Written evidence submitted to the Inquiry from Dr Tanczer

Connected Tech Inquiry - Oral evidence session Transcript

Domestic Abuse statistics

Research Project on Tech Abuse at UCL, further information

Dr Tanczer published research, including further information on Gender and Tech Research Group

Australian e-Safety Commissioner

Committee Chair’s comments

Upskilling of law enforcement

Support for domestic abuse services