Technology-facilitated domestic abuse: Perpetration pathways and the justifications of those who harm

• In Event: Technologically facilitated abuse and honour-based abuse

Abstract

As technology evolves, the digital pathways exploited to cause harm expand and transform. Technology-facilitated domestic abuse (TFDA) refers to the misuse of technology to control, coerce, or harass an intimate partner. While TFDA research has primarily focused on understanding the problem based on accounts of domestic abuse victims/survivors, or the organisations supporting them, there is little direct knowledge of the mindset of the perpetrators, the opportunities created by technology, and the ways they defend their actions. This presentation, based on preliminary qualitative analysis of interviews and a focus group with attendees of domestic abuse perpetrator programmes in the UΚ, discusses why those perpetrating TFDA opt for certain technologies over others, how they develop their technical skillset, as well as how they justify their behaviour. It is hoped that this will aid the development of prevention strategies, inform the content of behaviour change programmes and improve the safety of consumer IT products.

Author

• Nikolaos Koukopoulos, University College London