Domestic abusers exploiting technology to stalk kids and ex-partners

Abusive parents are using tracking devices, cameras, porn accounts and online games against their kids – and police are struggling to keep up.

Impersonating friends online, concealing tracking devices in toys and viewing pornography using an account in a child’s name are among tactics being used by abusive parents to harass and control their children.

Others are using online gaming platforms, such as PlayStation Network, or video-enabled apps, such as Facebook or Snapchat, to track down and assault ex-partners who have fled violent relationships.

In one case detailed in a report released this week by the national eSafety Commission a father pretended to be his son’s friend while logged into an online gaming session and asked the boy “when mum was going to be alone in the house”.

The man later found his ex-partner “and beat her up and left her very wounded”.

Experts say the behaviour is overwhelmingly used by men against female and child victims, and warn police and court systems are “not keeping up with” the emerging tactics.

Research by peak anti-family violence body WESNET and Curtin University found technology-based breaches of court protection orders were “rarely enforced and not taken as seriously as physical abuse”.

A comparison of surveys taken in 2015 and earlier this year, amid COVID-19 pandemic isolation, found abusers were using the reliance on technology for home schooling, work and connecting with friends or family to more tightly control victims.

Use of video camera surveillance rose 183 per cent, GPS tracking spiked 244 per cent and giving children a device in order to contact or monitor their mothers rose 346 per cent.

The eSafety Commission’s report cites other cases including parents:

VIEWING pornography using an account in their child’s name in an attempt to fake evidence of poor parenting by a mother to use in a custody battle.

Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

CREATING 50 fake social media accounts to try to get in contact with a child.

ENLISTING children to record their mother’s conversations and send them via AirDrop.

SMASHING children’s devices, changing passwords or pulling modems out of the wall to prevent communication.

TAMPERIN G with toys to conceal GPS tracking devices.

STALKING ex-partners and children using ‘find my device’ apps.

Parents have also demanded children show their surroundings on a video call, which “frequently resulted in the need for a family to relocate again”.

Families and Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said it was important for victims of domestic violence to be able to use technology to access support and information “but unfortunately that same technology can be misused to facilitate abuse”.

The findings of the report will be used to update training for frontline workers and educate children.

For support phone 1800 RESPECT.