Women with intellectual or cognitive disability are experiencing abuse through technology, with tactics like the misuse of their online accounts, monitoring with tracking devices, and having intimate images shared without consent, being used by perpetrators.
That’s according to new research from the Queensland University of Technology that was commissioned by the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. The study included interviews and focus groups with women with intellectual or cognitive disability who had experienced technology-facilitated abuse, and the frontline domestic violence workers who support them.
The researchers heard that perpetrators of technology-facilitated abuse often place GPS trackers and recording devices on wheelchairs and cars, tamper with hearing aids and other assistive devices, use smart home technology to control household devices like lights, misuse social media accounts and send unsolicited images on dating apps. The abusive behaviour experienced by women with cognitive and intellectual disability typically involves harassment, coercion, and manipulation, with the abuse often specifically targeted to exploit a woman’s disability.
Associate Professor Bridget Harris, one of the lead researchers, told Women’s Agenda she wasn’t surprised by the findings about how technology is being used to isolate, coerce, manipulate and harass women with cognitive and intellectual disability.
“But I was alarmed with just how silenced and overlooked women with cognitive and intellectual disabilities are, and we should be alarmed about this,” she said.
“We’re fortunate to have The eSafety Commissioner providing resources to assist women and frontline workers and to have incredible disability and domestic violence sectors working in this space. But we need to do better.
“Social media platforms and telecommunication agencies can and should be better at preventing and responding to tech abuse. And justice systems can definitely be bolstered; women and workers talked about a lack of knowledge and unwillingness to address harms and the need for more awareness about disability and tech abuse and training in the police.”
The pool of potential domestic abusers for women with cognitive and intellectual disability is wider than for women without disability, and often extends beyond partners and ex partners, to family members including parents, children, and siblings, carers, strangers and even support service providers.
“Frontline workers also reported that those who assist women may gain access to technologies under the guise of ‘helping’ them, and gain control of accounts and devices, leaving them open to exploitation,” Associate Professor Harris said.
Sometimes, a woman’s experience of technology-facilitated abuse becomes complicated because her abuser may also be her partner and her carer. In the study, frontline workers said that women in these kinds of abusive situations are often told that if it weren’t for their partner, they would not keep custody of their children.
Women also reported fear as a primary barrier in seeking help for technology-facilitated abuse.
“Women, and also the disability and domestic violence support workers we spoke with, talked about their fears of not being believed when they were help-seeking, and unfortunately, they encounter this all too often,” Associate Professor Harris said.
“Women with cognitive or intellectual disabilities can encounter misconceptions, stereotypes and assumptions about their capabilities, their trustworthiness. Women may also fear losing access to their children, and unfortunately, we know that there is an increased risk of this happening, even if they are the target of abuse.”
The research revealed that women with cognitive and intellectual disability use technology in their lives in important ways – from connecting with family and friends, to accessing support services. Some women in the study reported they were afraid to continue their regular use of technology when they became affected by technology-facilitated abuse. Others said they chose to continue using social media – potentially risking more abuse – because they wanted to maintain their social connection with others.
Resources have been developed by the eSafety Commissioner to better support frontline workers to assist women with disability to seek out help when they need it. These resources include videos, wallet cards, posters and conversation starters.
“I encourage disability support workers to watch these videos and then potentially watch them together with people they support,” Julie Inman Grant said.
“Women with intellectual or cognitive disability rely on technology for social connection, modern-day conveniences and entertainment and it’s vital they are supported when abuse occurs so they can continue to use technology in positive ways.”
If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the 1800 Respect National Helpline on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.
You can also reach the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.