Technology Safety, AI and Economic Abuse

At the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment (CCFWE), we recognize that while technology can drive progress, it can also be weaponized to control, intimidate, and financially harm survivors. Our technology safety, AI, and Economic Abuse initiative addresses this growing form of abuse where digital tools, especially financial services like e-transfers, are misused by abusers to maintain power and control. We are committed to tackling this emerging frontier of financial abuse in the digital age.

Our Approach

At CCFWE, we lead Canada’s response to technology-facilitated financial abuse by advocating for safe banking, safe e-transfers, and consumer protection. We educate and empower women to recognize financial harm, navigate digital systems safely, and push for industry accountability.

Through a survivor-centered, equity-driven framework, we address financial crimes, misuse of technology, and systemic gaps, ensuring survivors are protected, informed, and heard.

Digital Safety and Education

We equip survivors to recognize Technology-Facilitated Economic Abuse (TFEA), protect their online privacy, and secure financial information.

Our annual Help Us Rise campaign in 2024 focused on TFEA, raising awareness of how digital tools can be used to exert control and cause harm. Learn more about the impact of Help Us Rise.

Tech-Equity Policy and Reform

We work with lawmakers, FinTech leaders, the Canadian Bankers Association, and major banks to drive safer transfers, survivor protections, and trauma-informed design standards that reflect the realities of economic abuse.

Learn about our National Task Force and Financial Services Committee.

We helped change Canada’s banking system.

In partnership with Women’s Shelters Canada, CCFWE successfully advocated for Interac to introduce an opt-out feature allowing users to disable the message field for specific senders in e-transfers. This is a huge win in the fight against technology-facilitated economic abuse.

Why This Matters

Survivors told us how abusive partners were using e-transfer messages to harass and intimidate them. One survivor’s story opened our eyes to how common—and harmful—this tactic is. What should be a safe way to send money became another weapon of control.

One case brought to our attention involved a survivor who endured persistent harassment through the message field of e-transfers. What initially seemed like an isolated incident revealed itself to be part of a larger trend where abusers were exploiting this feature to send threatening or manipulative messages. This behavior perpetuated a cycle of coercive control and highlighted the shortcomings of existing banking systems in safeguarding against such misuse. This story underscored the urgent need for systemic change and the importance of creating safer financial services for victim-survivors.

A Milestone for Systemic Change

Abusers were using e-transfer message fields to harass survivors. So we took action. CCFWE and Women’s Shelters Canada launched a national advocacy campaign—calling on Interac and Canada’s banks to close this dangerous loophole.

Advocacy in Action

We issued an open letter, met with financial leaders, BMO, and Canadian Bankers Association, TD, RBC, and CIBC and pushed for urgent tech safety reforms drawing on survivor stories and global best practices. Read the full action here.

We engaged directly with partners in the financial sector, initiating critical conversations about implementing protective measures in digital financial systems. Our advocacy drew on best practices and successful examples from around the world, such as the solutions adopted by Starling Bank in the UK. Learn about our call to action and Financial Futures Summit.

Real Change Delivered

Interac responded. They introduced a new opt-out feature that lets users disable the message field for specific senders a direct fix to prevent tech-facilitated abuse. Read the full response. This feature directly addresses the misuse we highlighted, preventing abusive individuals from sending harmful or intimidating messages. The opt-out feature mirrors an initiative by Starling Bank in the UK, further demonstrating the global relevance and effectiveness of this approach.

It is just one of many tangible steps towards safer banking for survivors. Interac has committed to rolling out additional protective measures in the coming year. This commitment highlights the potential for sustained, meaningful change when advocacy is paired with collaboration and action.

What This Means

This change is a big win for survivor safety and proof that systemic change is possible when advocacy meets action. Explore our Help Us Rise campaign to learn how we’re transforming financial systems to protect survivors.

Learn more about our system change work and how we’re driving systemic change in the financial sector

Related Resources:

Share Your Story. Do you have a story to share or want to participate in our systemic change efforts? Contact us at [email protected]