‘Like science fiction’: How smart cars are being weaponised by violent men
LoadingThese mechanisms include making revoking access and transferring ownership possible during separation without contact with the other party; offering a clear history of account access, including logs of remote commands and location pings that can be exported for evidence; and ensuring retailers and dealerships are trained to reset devices and accounts when a car changes ownership.“These are solvable design issues. This next generation of automotive technologies means that car manufacturers need their next ‘seatbelt moment’,” she said.“What’s menacing and insidious is the speed and velocity at which you can harm someone with technology, it is rapid, but you can also be very covert. Technology can be used as a tool and a lifeline, but also as a weapon.”Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the support of companies was “vital” to preventing abuse.Loading“The abuse of women is evolving so rapidly that it’s hard to keep up with the new technologies that are being invented that harass, intimidate, stalk and control women. Some of this does sound like science fiction,” she said.“Companies that produce these products need to consider; as they are designing the products, as they are selling them, and as they are marketing them; what safety features can be embedded so that the users of the products can be kept safe.”Frontline workers have reported cases of abusers locking smart fridges to control what their family eatsDomestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said there was a staggering number of devices which could be co-opted for abuse.“Wherever a device can be controlled remotely, and where multiple people can control it, it can be weaponised,” she said.LoadingFrontline workers have reported cases of abusers locking smart fridges to control what their family eats; abusers monitoring their ex-partners via automatic pet feeder cameras; and using smart TVs to send threatening messages.“A lot of people aren’t aware that [technology facilitated abuse] is happening to them because it can happen in relationships gradually,” Cronin said.“It can seem benign … but can have a significant psychological impact on people, where you feel like you’ve lost control of your environment, you feel like you know that you are being stalked, controlled, watched wherever you are, and have no privacy.”A coroner found last week that Lilie James, who was murdered by 23-year-old Paul Thijssen after she ended their brief relationship, was also a victim of technology-facilitated abuse, with Thijssen monitoring James’ location online and sharing an intimate photo of her without her consent.The coroner found his behaviour was not recognised as harmful by his friends, pointing to the need for education and awareness around this form of abuse. He had tracked and monitored a partner in a previous relationship.*Not her real name.Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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