Abusers using AI and digital tech to attack and control women, charity warns

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Rachel HallJanuary 30, 2026 at 08:00 AM

AI Summary

medium article 4 min

A recent report from the domestic abuse charity Refuge reveals a surge in technology-facilitated abuse against women. In the last three months of 2025, Refuge saw a 62% increase in complex cases, totaling 829 women, and a 24% increase in referrals of women under 30. Abusers are exploiting AI, smartwatches, and smart home devices to track, stalk, and control victims. Refuge emphasizes that current technology design and regulations fail to adequately protect women, making it easy for abusers to weaponize these tools. The charity urges for safety to be a foundational principle in technology development and regulation to prevent further harm.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Oura 40% Fitbit 40% Police ×250% Mina ×360% Emma Pickering 70% Refuge ×490%

Keywords

domestic abuse 100% technology-facilitated abuse 90% women's safety 80% smartwatches 80% wearable tech 70% artificial intelligence 70% refuge 70% digital technology 60% stalking 60% privacy 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Very Negative

Score: -0.70

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Source

The Guardian - World News

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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domestic abuse technology-facilitated abuse women's safety smartwatches wearable tech artificial intelligence refuge digital technology stalking privacy

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