The use of a chatbot to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse

• In Event: Gender, Crime and Justice Working Group Panel 2: Interventions in GBV

Abstract

The use of mobile-based technology to support victim-survivors of domestic abuse is becoming more prevalent, with the 24/7 availability and ease of use reported as positives.

We report on developments of ISEDA, (Innovative Solutions for Eliminating Domestic Abuse) a Horizon Europe project involving 14 partners from 9 European Countries which aims to tackle and eliminate domestic abuse using multi-sector expertise via modern technological tools and practices.

One of the key tools to be deployed by the project is a chatbot which victim-survivors will use to seek help and find information alongside being able to store and record evidence to be used in court. Primarily, it will give women access to supportive technology in countries where services are not always commonplace, for example, countries where women’s services lack consistent funding, or where police training on domestic abuse is sporadic.

In this paper we explore whether technology such as the chatbot should be integrated within women’s services as a complementary tool available to support victim-survivors, and explore whether this can be done without adding to the workload of the already under-funded and overworked domestic abuse sector. We also highlight ethical issues surrounding the use of technology within the development of the chatbot specifically, and in the field of domestic abuse more broadly, and consider how these issues can be addressed.  

Authors

• Kate Butterby, Glasgow Caledonian University

• Nancy Lombard, Glasgow Caledonian University