A leading domestic abuse expert has warned how smartphones can be used by abusers to control their partners, but also as a means for victims to escape them.
Alessia Bianco leads the Everyone’s Business team at crisis support charity Hestia. She and her team work with employers to support victims of domestic abuse.
One in three women and one in seven men in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives. Every week two women are murdered by their current or ex-partner.
Hestia, in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation, launched the Bright Sky app and website in 2018 to provide victims and concerned bystanders with information and practical support.
Now, Vodafone and Hestia have teamed up again to share some expert advice on how Brits can better protect their devices from the prying eyes of an abusive partner.
It comes as new research from Vodafone reveals that three quarters (75%) of women have considered using their smartphone to escape an unsafe situation.
Vodafone research found that for women who have suffered abuse or been in unsafe situations, almost nine in 10 (88%) who were able to connect with others online to discuss their experiences said this was vital for their mental health. .
While 73% of people agree that dedicated websites and apps are useful (4) for people affected by domestic abuse, almost one in three (29%) would currently consider using apps or resources on line for support if they or someone they know were in a difficult situation. abusive or unsafe situation.
A leading domestic abuse expert has warned how smartphones can be used by abusers to control their partners, but also as a means for victims to escape them (File Image)
Around two-fifths (42%) of women said they would prefer to access support for abuse or safety issues online or over the phone, rather than in person.
The majority (68%) of women reported that searching for a problem online (for example, via Google) would be their first choice if they were worried about something.
Alessia has worked in the domestic violence sector for 15 years, a decade of which was on the front lines, working in shelters and answering calls from victims.
She believes that the new and increasingly sophisticated technology in our lives can be used by both perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse.
While his charity regularly hears about perpetrators using spy and tracking software, apps like Bright Sky are a real lifesaver for victims.
Technology-based coercive control can seem caring and helpful, and these “red flags” can often be overlooked during the exciting early stages of a relationship, when emotions are most intense.
A partner who helps set up digital accounts and applications by accessing login data can give perpetrators the ability to monitor an individual’s online activity.
Alessia said: ‘Domestic abuse is about power and control and what we often see at the start of a relationship is a ‘love bombing’ – the perpetrator giving someone a lot of affirmations. It is often during this time, when it is exciting and people are in love, that red flags are missed.
“Sometimes things move very quickly, the couple moves in together, they get engaged and then pregnancy occurs. But then the abuser will start to change the ‘rules of the relationship.’
“Often it starts out very subtle with the perpetrator saying things like ‘why are you wearing that dress today?’ You should wear something different.’
‘They could start monitoring what the victim eats and who they see. We often see victims and survivors who are miles away from their support network.
‘So it could be ‘who texts you?’ or the victim may begin to see their battery drain faster than normal. But it’s all very subtle.
‘We talk to women who say they find tracking tags in their cars and in their bags. Perpetrators use them and use programs like “find my phone.”
The Bright Sky app and website provide information and support to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or who is worried that someone they know may be.
Two key features of the app are the questionnaire that helps users identify abusive behavior and the journal feature, which allows users to document their concerns and abuse.
Alessia said: ‘The questionnaire is a yes/no test and depending on people’s answers it might say ‘you may be suffering from domestic abuse’ and give you some things to think about.
Hestia, in partnership with the Vodafone Foundation, launched the Bright Sky app and website in 2018 to provide victims and concerned bystanders with information and practical support (File image)
‘The other really useful aspect of Bright Sky is the journal. It allows you to share videos, voice notes, images, and evidence to essentially document the abuse you may be experiencing.
‘Many clients use the diary feature specifically to document what’s going on around them, because perpetrators can be really manipulative, saying things like ‘you’re remembering wrong, I didn’t do or say that.’
“Bright Sky does not store that information, it sends it to any email address you indicate, whether it’s an employer or a trusted friend.”
Alessia added: “But there is still a large percentage of people who are not technologically savvy, especially older people who are often forgotten victims of domestic abuse.”