When Convenience Becomes Coercive Control
Smart home devices were marketed as tools of comfort and efficiency, but for many survivors of domestic violence, they now represent constant danger. Research shows that technology features in 99.3% of gender-based violence cases, turning homes into digitally enabled surveillance zones. Smart speakers, connected fridges, and wearable tech can quietly log behaviour, routines, and even conversations, giving abusers new ways to exert power when they are physically absent. This form of domestic violence technology extends coercive control beyond the traditional “behind closed doors” scenario into a continuous, always-on threat. Survivors may notice unexplained knowledge of their movements, arguments that reference private conversations, or pressure to use certain apps and devices. Understanding smart home security risks is now a critical part of safety planning, especially for those living with or recently separated from an abusive partner who may still have access to shared accounts or devices.
How Smart Devices Are Weaponized for Surveillance
Abusers increasingly use smart devices in domestic abuse to track, monitor, and intimidate. Smart refrigerators with internal cameras can reveal when someone is home, what they eat, and how often they open the door, enabling control over diet and daily routine. Smart glasses with discreet cameras can capture photos and videos without consent, later used for threats or humiliation. Bluetooth and smart speakers act as always-on microphones, turning into bugs that capture conversations and movement around the home. Doorbell cameras can monitor visitors and comings and goings, making it harder for survivors to seek help without detection. Combined, these tools create a web of wearable surveillance safety risks and in-home monitoring that many victims do not realize exists. The digital component of abuse has grown so sharply that violent incidents increasingly include some element of tech-facilitated spying or harassment.
Why Vulnerable Users Are at Greater Risk
Vulnerable populations—such as people experiencing domestic violence, those with limited digital literacy, or individuals financially dependent on a partner—face heightened smart home security risks. Abusers often control internet accounts, device purchases, and configuration, giving them administrator-level access while survivors remain as basic users or are kept completely in the dark. Many do not understand how data moves between phones, wearables, and cloud services, or that a single shared login can expose their location, habits, and communications. Because smart devices often appear neutral or helpful, survivors may minimize their concerns or blame themselves for “paranoia.” This lack of awareness allows abusers to normalize surveillance as “safety” or “household management.” Without clear education about domestic violence technology and how it can be misused, survivors are less likely to question unusual notifications, unfamiliar apps, or unexpected changes to device behaviour that signal covert monitoring.
Immediate Digital Safety Steps for Survivors
Survivors can take practical steps to reduce the risks without necessarily abandoning all technology. Start by reviewing which apps and devices track your location: disable location sharing where safe to do so, or restrict it to essential services only. Check shared accounts on phones, smart speakers, cameras, and wearables; where possible, create your own accounts and remove an abuser’s access, or log out of devices you no longer control. Use privacy or “do not disturb” modes on smart speakers and displays, and mute microphones or cover cameras when not in use. If you suspect tampering, reset devices to factory settings and set new, unique passwords, ideally using two-factor authentication. Whenever possible, document suspicious activity and discuss a safety plan with a trusted professional or support service before making major changes that could provoke retaliation.
Designing Safer Smart Homes and Futures
While survivors can take individual precautions, the responsibility for safer smart devices in domestic abuse situations also lies with designers and manufacturers. Experts argue that companies must anticipate abuse scenarios from day one, rather than treating technology-facilitated gender-based violence as an edge case. Devices should have clear recording indicators that cannot be disabled, obvious distinctions between admin and regular users, and straightforward ways for individuals to separate accounts or reset entire smart home ecosystems when leaving an abusive relationship. Privacy-by-default settings and transparent logs of who accessed what and when can help users spot misuse early. As pressure mounts on tech companies to protect users from digital abuse, survivors and advocates can push for features that prioritize wearable surveillance safety and autonomy. A truly “smart” home should empower its residents—not provide a ready-made surveillance infrastructure for abusers.