Someone using family violence can also use technology to harass, monitor, stalk, impersonate or make threats to control, frighten or humiliate. Research has also shown that women and girls are subjected to very high levels of online abuse.
Clients should be alerted to the fact that their location history can be viewed in the QR check-in app installed on their phone. They are able to remove the location history, without this impacting on the government contact tracing. To read more and watch a ‘how to’ video, go to the VicGov website.
Other advice and options are available at WESNET’s website
1800RESPECT has information on phone apps on their website as well as information on technology and safety
Tech Safety Resources for Clients
- Useful online safety checkup for your phone/tablet/computer
- Practical e-safety checklist for women who are in FV situations
- Women’s Technological Safety & Privacy A toolkit for women experiencing tech abuse to learn how they can increase their technology safety and privacy. (WESNET)
- How to videos explaining how to lock down security settings for those in FV situations
- LGBTIQ+ Learning Lounge Find out how you can play nice and stay safe online by exploring a range of topics designed for the LGBTIQ+ community.
- Tinder Dating Safety Guide Aims to help survivors and the general population with learning about the safety features available in the Tinder Dating App and includes some of the new updates built into the Tinder app around reporting abusive and harassing behaviour and more.
- My Safety Tool The My safety tool can assist you to understand common separation issues, connect you with services and help you plan for your safety.
- Technology-facilitated coercive control This practice guide describes the research evidence on technology-facilitated coercive control
Tech Safety Resources for Workers
- Know the facts about online abuse towards women and girls at the eSafety Commissioner website.
- A brief overview of what stalkerware is in this article
- Learn more about stalkerware at the Coalition against Stalkerware (CAS) website
- Checklist for someone supporting a woman in FV situation