How safe are the gadgets we wear and trust every day? Alarmingly, not as safe as we think.
Domestic abusers are increasingly weaponising everyday tech—smartwatches, Fitbits, Oura rings, even smart home devices.
They use it to stalk and control victims. A recent report from charity Refuge reveals.
In the last three months of 2025 alone, referrals of tech-facilitated abuse cases rose sharply.
Emma Pickering, head of Refuge’s tech abuse team, warns, “It is currently far too easy for perpetrators to access and weaponise smart accessories. The consequences are devastating.”
Take Mina’s story. She fled her abuser, leaving behind a smartwatch.
Within hours, he tracked her through linked cloud accounts, finding her at emergency accommodations—despite police involvement.
Mina said it left her “feeling unsafe, unheard, and responsible for managing a situation completely out of my control.”
AI Enables Abuse
AI is also being misused. Abusers can manipulate videos to make victims appear intoxicated.
They can create fake documents, or even tamper with medical devices. This can be potentially life-threatening.
Pickering fears this is just the beginning: “We’ll see more and more as these tools advance.”
She calls for stronger regulation, tech industry accountability, and better-funded digital investigation teams.
The government says tackling online abuse is a priority, but experts insist measures like the Online Safety Act and Ofcom oversight aren’t enough.
As our devices get smarter, the threats grow too. If safety isn’t designed in from the start, who really protects the most vulnerable?
