MPs have called on the government to tackle ‘tech abuse'; after a report by the Culture Media and Sport Committee (CMS) found that smart technology and connected devices are being used to facilitate domestic violence.

The committee launched an inquiry in May 2022 to examine the potential benefits and risk of smart technology such as virtual assistants and wearable fitness trackers. The report found that there were around nine connected devices in each household in the UK and by 2050 there will be 24 billion interconnected devices worldwide.

Evidence given to the committee during the investigation showed that most domestic abuse cases feature a cyber element, such as spyware. Perpetrators use smart technology to monitor movements and collect recordings and images of their victims.

The CMS committee’s report recommends that the government improves law enforcement and the response of the justice system. It said that manufacturers and distributers need to mitigate the risks through the design of smart products.

The report also recommended that the government empowers users to exercise their rights over their personal data and raise awareness of specialist services tacking domestic violence.

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, chair of the CMS committee, said: “The government must make it a priority to work with manufacturers to tackle this technology-facilitated abuse, which is only going to get worse in the future. The police and criminal justice system must be better equipped to deal with it, while victims should be properly supported.

“Connected devices also harvest a large amount of personal data and there are particular concerns where children are involved. The Government and Information Commissioner’s Office should make sure products used in schools and by young people at home have privacy settings that are intuitive for children and age-appropriate terms and conditions.”

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