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Stalking, Surveillance and Monitoring Guidance – including for  Pets

Debbs recently contributed to a story through The Herald, Cheap tech turns into new weapon for abusers tracking domestic violence victims - NZ Herald that highlighted the prevalence of devices used to stalk, surveil, and monitor victims of family violence.

 

This story provided some fantastic advice to support tech safety, so we thought we would replicate this for everyone, while also providing some additional considerations for our fur-babies/pets.

 

Netsafe Advice For Victims and Child Victims:


Technology and internet watchdog "Netsafe' offers safety advice on its website for “tech-facilitated family violence”, which it describes as “a serious issue”.

 

“Unfortunately, it is common for abusers to use phones and other technology as part of their abuse towards someone,” the organisation said.

 

Netsafe said victims worried about being tracked by violent abusers should consider:

  • Does your partner, or someone you are concerned about, seem to know private details you haven’t shared with them?

  • Do they have access to your digital devices or accounts such as emails and social media?

  • Are they attempting to control or pressure you in how you use technology and social media?

  • Do they use digital means to communicate in ways that are hurtful or intimidating?

  • Have they posted offensive or embarrassing content about you online?

  • Have they provided you with digital devices or installed apps on your devices without your agreement, or by pressuring you to agree?

 

Netsafe said there were a number of other warning signs that someone was a victim of tech-based abuse.

These included:

  • Receiving emails or messages that appear to be read before you have had the chance to read them.

  • Frequent password resets that you did not initiate.

  • Messages disappearing when you haven’t deleted them.

  • Unexpected abusive emails or texts from unknown or anonymous senders.

  • Discovery of unauthorised social media accounts created in your name.

  • Your device is losing battery quicker than usual or your device is turning off and on unexpectedly.

 

Netsafe said examples of abusive behaviours involving technology included sending abusive, threatening, or harassing messages through texts, emails, or social media platforms, or sending images that threaten the victim, their friends, family and pets.

It also includes:

  • ​​​Non-consensual sharing or threatening to share intimate images or videos, also known as “image-based abuse” or “revenge porn”.

  • Monitoring your whereabouts or online activities secretly via a surveillance device or spyware.

  • Restricting or controlling your access to technology or online platforms.

  • Financial abuse such as unexpected transactions on bank statements, denied access to personal accounts, or receiving notifications about account changes you did not authorise.

  • Using technology to control or manipulate home appliances, locks and connected devices.

  • Using tracking devices in toys, cards and devices to monitor locations and activities.

  • Sending menacing messages and images that aim to cause the victim reputational harm.

  • “Doxing” by posting the victim’s personal information on social media or elsewhere online.

 

For more information or to contact Netsafe click here and to file an online report click on this link.

 

 

Netsafe Advice For Pets:


Look for anything that something could be sewn into:

  • Blankets and clothes – undertake a physical touch test or use a scanner – some suggestions are below  

  • Collars – check for stitching that doesn’t look quite right or interfered with

  • Tags – especially material trinkets or tags on collars that could have something within them etc.

 

Other things to consider if in transit or newly relocated with a pet.

  • If microchipped

    • make sure the updated address is not the new address of a victim – provide a safe address

    • ask the vet to change the address to one that will not allow for identification of the pet or victims address

  • Check food packages

  • Check cages

 

 

Scanning devices, we are not sure of any specific devices that are better than others, we are not endorsing any device or app, but some options might be:

 

Physical devices

 

Apps

 

 

Please reach out to a specialist organisation or agency if you have concerns

 

 

ECLIPSE has heard so many concerning stories that we developed a Technologically Facilitated Family Violence workshop in the hope we could raise awareness in frontline response organisations. 


Our workshop details are available via this link - Technology Facilitated Family Violence | ECLIPSE all enquiries to enquiries@eclipsefamilyviolenceservices.co.nz

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