皇家华人

The UCL Gender and Tech Research Lab听within UCL鈥檚 Information Security Research Group (ISec) has announced a new collaborative research project with four Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programmes (DAPP) to deepen understanding of the misuse of digital devices in domestic abuse contexts.

Technology-facilitated abuse

The study focuses on perpetrators of technology-facilitated abuse (鈥渢ech abuse鈥�), which refers to the ways digital tools and platforms are repurposed to monitor, harass, threaten, or otherwise harm victims and survivors of intimate partner violence. This can include things like GPS tracking, hacking into accounts, sharing intimate images without consent, and using smart home devices to exert control.

Leadership and goals

The research is led by Associate Professor Dr Leonie Maria Tanczer and Research Fellow Dr Nikolaos Koukopoulos as part of Dr Tanczer鈥檚 UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship.

Their work will focus on extracting information on the background, drivers, and practices of domestic abuse perpetration via their engagement with Respect-accredited DAPP services in the UK. Respect is a听UK charity dedicated to ending听domestic abuse. It is also the accreditation body that ensures perpetrator interventions follow evidence-based, coordinated approaches to hold abusers accountable and affect behaviour change.

Research methodology

Over the coming months, Dr Tanczer and Dr Koukopoulos will conduct interviews, focus groups, and observational research with domestic abuse perpetrators to gather insights on abuse patterns and develop socio-technical solutions, including design recommendations and policy interventions.

Additionally, the Gender and Tech Research Team听will use the gathered information to positively impact the course curriculum of DAPP programmes, risk assessment and safety practices, and the systematic collection of data tech abuse data across the frontline support sector.

Support from Respect

Respect鈥檚 Head of Services, Ippo Panteloudakis, is delighted to see his organisation backing this timely study: 鈥淩espect has a long history of bringing practice and research together; and a track record of collaborations with academic institutions. I am very excited about this study; it's an opportunity for the perpetrator work sector to expand its knowledge on 'tech abuse' and find creative ways to apply this knowledge to its work with perpetrators.

The DAPP programmes involved in the study are Respect-accredited services; we know they carry out all aspects of their work as safely and effectively as possible. And that is why they are best positioned to be part of this study. I look forward to the research project's insights and learnings.鈥�

DAPP programmes

The four DAPP programmes in this research involve organisations across England and Wales, including the London Borough of Redbridge Spotlight Programme, My CWA in Cheshire, Threshold DAS in Carmarthenshire, and The Change Project in Chelmsford.

All of them meet rigorous standards for working safely and effectively with domestic abuse perpetrators. By partnering with these established programmes, the UCL research team hopes to gain valuable insights to inform more impactful interventions and policy responses.

Partner support听

Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie, Chief Executive of My CWA, said: 鈥淭echnology-facilitate听domestic abuse is a feature of almost every case we have supported in the last year. Understanding more about why and how perpetrators use such tactics and incorporating the learning into our work will help us to make victims safer鈥�.

Head of Service for Domestic Abuse at Redbridge Council, Emma Pattison, said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to partner with UCL on this research project. With digital technology advancing all the time, it is vital to gain a firmer understanding of how it is being used for abuse by perpetrators. Those who have completed our Spotlight Programme have opened up to researchers about their use of technology, helping us better understand their motivations for doing so and the prevalence of technology-facilitated abuse. This project will enhance our service and pave the way for a more effective response to this form of abuse.鈥�

The Change Project鈥檚 DA Programme Lead, Clare Whalley emphasised: 鈥淎 deeper understanding of tech abuse is paramount, due to the significant impact this can have on victim/survivors and their children. Abusers use technology to control, harass and intimidate victim/survivors who should have the right to remain safe and respected online. With the introduction of new technology, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), it poses new ways for perpetrators to abuse, from harassment through to non-consensual pornography.鈥�

Lastly, Richard Owen, the Family & ARC Programmes Manager of Threshold DAS Ltd, said: 鈥淭hreshold DAS have always been an organisation keen to provide the right sort of support at the right time, hence our involvement and support of UCL. We have always looked to be a part of progressive development work, looking at methodology and understanding of perpetration and how best to support and guide those who wish for positive change in their relationships.

We believe that vital research such as this, particularly in the use of technology to abuse, is another positive step towards better outcomes for all victims of domestic abuse. We hope that our engagement with UCL on this project will not only help organisations like ours to develop the skills of facilitators to better deal with these issues but will also give victims a better understanding and more confidence to look for support.鈥�

Get in touch

The Gender and Tech Team is thrilled to start their research and this exciting collaboration. They strongly encourage other Respect-accredited DAPPs to email them if they would like to support these efforts and be involved in the study.