‘Smart’ tech is being weaponised by domestic abusers, and women are experiencing the worst of it | Coco Khan

Access to doorbells, heaters and watches means that vindictive partners can control and torment wives and girlfriends

Readers may be familiar with the famous Dolly Parton line It costs a lot of money to look this cheap". I like to paraphrase it. If I have a guest at my home, I'll sweep my hand across the room and say: Friend, it took a lot of learning to live this dumb." No, I'm not talking about learning to wear my Danny Dyer T-shirts with pride. I'm talking about my refusal to sign up to smart tech: the internet-connected versions of quotidian household machinery that are becoming commonplace in our modern lives - and increasingly being used by domestic abusers to target their victims.

Smart technology is nothing new, but its proliferation is. In 2019, 57% of homes in Britain had at least one smart device, with people no doubt persuaded by the promise of fully customisable, and even drudgery-free, Jetsons-style residences. Those numbers are rising, with manufacturers seemingly desperate to smart" anything that can be plugged in (and, of course, charge more for it). There are smart kettles that can be boiled from your phone; smart showers that let you set the temperature digitally; and smart fridges that send you a text to say there is no milk, as if modern life were in short supply of passive-aggressive housemates.

Coco Khan is commissioning editor for Guardian B2B, and a columnist and feature writer

In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women's Aid. In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org

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