Ep.12 Technology-Assisted Domestic Abuse w/ Julia Slupska

Technology can be very helpful to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking, but is also often misused by abusers to harass, threaten, coerce, monitor, exploit, and violate their victims. The resources below explore the extent and nature of technology-facilitated abuse. In this podcast we discuss with Julia Slupska to discuss how smart home devices can be a tool for domestic violence and ways we can improve the security around it.

Speaker Profile:

Julia Slupska is a doctoral student at the Centre for Doctoral Training in Cybersecurity and the Oxford Internet Institute. Her research focuses on how cybersecurity concepts and practices can address the technologically-mediated abuse. She is also exploring how feminist theories and methodology—such as participatory action research and the ethics of care—can improve cybersecurity. Previously, she completed the MSc in Social Science of the Internet on the role of metaphors in international cybersecurity policy.  Before joining the OII, Julia worked on an LSE Law project on comparative regional integration and coordinated a course on Economics in Foreign Policy for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  She also works as a freelance photographer.

Useful Links:

DIY Guide to Feminist Cybersecurity: https://hackblossom.org/cybersecurity/ (An easily accessible guide with free tools for improving digital security)

Gender and IoT Lab: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/steapp/research/digital-technologies-policy-laboratory/gender-and-iot (Research team looking at smart home devices and domestic abuse)

IPV Tech Research Lab: https://www.ipvtechresearch.org/ (Research team looking at computer security and intimate partner abuse)

Intimate partner abuse and domestic violence support services:

• National Stalking Helpine: 0808 802 0300 https://www.suzylamplugh.org/pages/category/national-stalking-helpline
• Women's Aid: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
• Refuge: https://www.refuge.org.uk/

Reconfigure: https://medium.com/@reconfigure2020/reconfigure-introducing-feminist-digital-privacy-workshops-31710b704c47