Technology-Facilitated Economic Abuse: Addressing the Digital Impact on Survivors
As CCFWE’s National Economic Abuse Awareness and Advocacy unfolds, we continue highlighting critical issues and solutions. Our ‘Help Us Rise Campaign’ hosted a thought-provoking panel event spotlighting the pressing impact of economic abuse in the digital age. Bringing together leading experts, passionate advocates, and community members, the discussion focused on Technology-Facilitated Economic Abuse (TEFA), its far-reaching challenges, and actionable solutions to empower and support survivors.
Moderated by Molly Willats, CCFWE, Policy Analyst, the session panelists, including Emma Pickering from Refuge UK, Rhiannon Wong from Women’s Shelters Canada, and Dr. Natasha Tusikov from York University, shared their insights on the misuse of technology to control, exploit, and monitor victims’ finances alongside practical strategies to address these challenges.
Before our panelists, the event began with our guest speaker, Kate, a professional in financial counseling, who shared her story for the first time about gender-based intimate partner violence and economic abuse.
Here are the most impactful takeaways from the enriching discussion:
1. Defining and Examining Technology-Facilitated Abuse Across Professional Contexts
The panel began with capturing the focus of the definition and practical implications of technology-facilitated abuse across different environments.
Key Insights/Takeaway:
- Referred to as digital-financial abuse, technology-facilitated abuse is a form of abuse where technology is weaponized to control or exploit a survivor’s financial independence and access to [economic] resources.
- Example: This form of abuse often occurs with other technology-based gender-based violence. According to a study by Women’s Shelters Canada, 78% of survivors face technology-facilitated economic abuse within other forms of violence.
- Creative and covert ways of enacting abuse in tandem with new advancements in technology have resulted in coercive actions such as restricting spending limitations, stalking, financial dependence, blackmail, and threats such as sharing intimate images, ability to hold a job due to mental stress, reputation, or credit history.
2. Evolving Dynamics of Technology-Facilitated Abuse in the Digital Age
One standout theme was the importance of technology in today’s digital age. Our panelists spoke to the ramifications of developing technology as it increases new methods of abuse.
Key Insights:
- New forms of abuse are evident in:
- Video conferencing/calls, harassment through social media, withdrawal of technological devices.
- Cancellation of victim/survivor’s accounts, taking over victim/survivor’s accounts, sending spam or negative emails to family and friends to further isolate the victim/survivor.
- Smart speakers (e.g., Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo, Google Nest) might be used for eavesdropping or tracking purchase history on the account. Video doorbells can track who is entering and leaving the house. Smart thermometers can change temperatures in the house from a remote location allowing perpetrators/abusers to manipulate overall utility bills.
- Panelist Emma Pickering from Refuge UK spoke about the landscape change during COVID-19.
- Example: With an increased turn to the digital space, financial institutions resulted in quicker turnaround times for credit applications without increased censoring and assessment processes that would be the case at the bank.
- While financial institutions and other tech companies are largely concerned with ensuring the protection of users from third-party threats, they miss potential dangers from intimate partners. Oftentimes, information used to bypass digital security includes outlining mothers’ maiden name, first job, birth city, etc.; however, as this information is easily accessible in intimate partner relationships, it becomes quite easy for perpetrators to manipulate their partner’s finances.
Call for Action:
- As technology continues to advance, issues that existed ten (10) plus years ago, such as abusive messages through e-transfer, persist. It takes a lot of time for industry players and tech companies to take action on their platforms.
- Emma Pickering raises a disconnect in both financial institutions and tech companies when it comes to providing safety measures for victims/survivors.
- Panelist Dr. Natasha Tusikov from York University expresses the importance of introducing pressure on technology companies to accept social responsibility. For example:
- Safety and privacy should be built into smart products for increased security. Changes can include a notification when a feature is triggered remotely, such as a camera or microphone turning on, allowing victims in their homes to potentially notice that they are being monitored.
3. Culturally Inclusive Support for Survivors: Bridging Gaps in Care Across Marginalized Communities
A valuable question raised by a guest, this theme highlights recognizing and addressing cultural differences and language barriers to ensure equitable and effective support for survivors and victims.
Call for Action:
- Due to cultural and language barriers, victims may not even be aware of the abuse they are facing, thereby increasing accessibility for victims/survivors in financial institutions enhances opportunities for support.
- Rhiannon Wong from Women’s Shelters Canada speaks to the need for interpreters in all branches to ensure victims are aware of the transactions made in their name. A reliable translator promotes secure transactions and can reduce misinformed decisions.
4. Solutions and Resources for Victims/Survivors and Support Services in the Era of Evolving Technology-Facilitated Abuse
This theme raises thought-provoking solutions and resources for victims/survivors and front-line shelter/anti-violence workers.
Key Insights:
- During COVID-19, one increased form of abuse seen in Canada was perpetrators creating debt in victims’/survivors’ names by applying for Canada Emergency Response Benefits [financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who were directly affected by COVID-19]. For example, this included not informing the partner whose name the loan was taken out in, leaving it to the partner to pay off the debt, or denying them access to those funds.
- Dr. Natasha Tusikov discusses Bill C-332 in Canada (an act to amend the criminal code; controlling or coercive behavior), which proposes it is an offensive act to exercise control on an intimate partner that includes any matter related to the partner’s employment or education.
- Organizations supporting victims/survivors are chronically underfunded with support services and front-line workers working high caseloads, complex cases, people in crisis, etc., and thereby are regularly unable to accommodate survivors.
- While women’s shelters in the UK can provide 2-3 years of support, Canadian shelters can house individuals for only 30 days with single staff members who are required to stay up to date on as many developments as possible. However, not every new development has the possibility of attention from staff.
Call for Action:
- Increase opportunities for financial awareness to survivors/victims.
- Financial institutions and governments understanding digital financial abuse or technology-enabled financial abuse within the home can advance support or protections for survivors/victims.
- Dr. Natasha recommends robust social assistance and re-examining the legal system to address the long-standing biases in accessing proper legal support. This requires increased knowledge mobilization through education and advocacy amongst both the public and legal system.
- Anti-violence and front-line workers must be given accessible training, resources, tools, and knowledge to support survivors experiencing all forms of tech-based gender-based violence and economic abuse.
5. Fostering Allyship Raised by a guest, this theme highlights actions allies, loved ones, and families can pursue to show support toward victims/survivors.
Our panelists highlighted the following:
- Believe in survivors and validate what they feel comfortable sharing.
- Avoid judgment as what a survivor/victim may share can be only the tip of the iceberg.
- Provide a safe space if/when possible.
- Avoid assumptions about what might be best for the survivor/victim as they know their situations best.
As we closed our panel discussion, Dr. Natasha urged caution to users when operating smart devices and AI tools as they are developed in a short period based on data sets that are inaccurate and contain bias.
Did you miss the panel? Subscribe to your newsletter for highlights from upcoming events and our 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Check out our original song ‘Ascending’ by Saber ft. Niha Shazad and music video featuring local Ottawa dance schools, including Vibe Dance Academy and Asana Spirit of Dance. In addition, we have launched a social media dance challenge, ‘Dance Towards Freedom’ to encourage the increased awareness and discussion of economic abuse.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlpKrX5lV7g
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/ascending-feat-niha-shahzad-single/1780007115
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6TDhApkpg64VXsvrqqbffy?si=a24da83c7ab64cc3
Written by Zoe Sheikh
