Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Responses to Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control

This paper examines the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified technology-facilitated coercive control (TFCC) within domestic and family violence (DFV). The authors analyze interviews with victim-survivors and DFV support workers to uncover the challenges posed by lockdown restrictions, including increased barriers to seeking help and escalated risk of abuse. The report highlights the exacerbation of technology-driven abuses during the pandemic, such as digital surveillance, geolocation tracking, and image-based abuse. It also discusses the systemic pressures on DFV services, such as increased client waitlists and practitioner workload, as well as potential solutions like remote service delivery to enhance victim-survivor safety.