Domestic abusers are increasingly using technology to trap, control, or hunt down their victims, including sewing GPS trackers into children's toys like teddy bears, according to the charity Refuge. The organization told the Victoria Derbyshire programme that such tactics are part of a growing trend of tech-facilitated abuse.
One survivor, referred to as “Ellen,” described how her ex-husband stalked her using their family computer during a 20-year marriage marked by coercive control. After she moved to a new town, he tracked her down by accessing her Gmail calendar, confronting her in public and saying, “found you, got you.” She later realized he had accessed her account or followed her friend.
Louise Ashwell, a caseworker from Refuge’s tech abuse unit, said abusers often hide location trackers in children’s belongings. “The kids would come back from having seen their parent and those little location trackers might have been sewed into the lining of their coat, they might have been sewn into the lining of a toy, their teddy bears,” she said. “It's happening and we can't pretend it's not.”
Another survivor, Euleen Hope, said her ex-partner used a smart TV to spy on her. He admitted seeing her on the sofa when she ignored a Skype call. Her partner was later imprisoned for physical assault. Refuge’s data shows that 68% of tech abuse cases also involve physical violence, and victims face a high risk of serious harm or death.
Refuge supports 6,500 women daily and has launched a tech abuse service with Google to help victims use technology safely. The charity advises creating hard-to-guess passwords and being aware of hidden devices. Both Ellen and Euleen successfully escaped their relationships.
