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

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## The Alarming Rise of Tech-Facilitated Abuse Against Women

A leading domestic abuse charity, Refuge, has issued a grave warning regarding the escalating use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology by abusers to target and control women. The charity’s recent report reveals a concerning trend of technology being weaponised against victims, leading to a record number of women seeking specialist support in late 2025. This included a significant 62% increase in the most complex cases and a 24% rise in referrals for women under the age of 30.

Perpetrators are exploiting a diverse array of modern devices and applications. Wearable technology, such as smartwatches, Oura rings, and Fitbits, is being used for tracking and stalking. Smart home devices, which control elements like lighting and heating, are manipulated to disrupt victims’ daily lives. Furthermore, AI spoofing applications are employed to impersonate individuals, while other AI tools generate highly realistic fake videos – for example, falsely portraying survivors as intoxicated or unstable. Abusers also create fraudulent documents, such as fake job offers or legal summons, to lure victims into dangerous situations.

Emma Pickering, head of Refuge’s tech-facilitated abuse team, highlighted a critical flaw: many devices are introduced to the market without adequate consideration for potential misuse against women. She emphasised that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of women must be a fundamental principle in the design of wearable technology and the relevant regulations, rather than an issue addressed as an afterthought. One survivor, identified as Mina, shared her terrifying ordeal where her abuser used her smartwatch to track her to emergency accommodation. She expressed a constant feeling of exposure and insecurity, believing the authorities failed to fully grasp the seriousness of such technological abuse.

Refuge is actively urging the government to address digitally enabled crimes. Key demands include increased funding for training and the development of specialised digital investigations teams. The charity also asserts that the technology industry should be held responsible for not designing devices and platforms with the safety of vulnerable individuals in mind. In response, a government spokesperson confirmed that tackling violence against women and girls, particularly when facilitated by technology, remains a top national priority.

This report underscores a significant and evolving challenge in protecting vulnerable individuals. The findings call for urgent action from both policymakers and technology developers to ensure that technological advancement does not inadvertently create new avenues for abuse.

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1. What is the primary focus of the article?

  • A. The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence technology.
  • B. The increasing use of technology by abusers to control women.
  • C. The government’s plans to fund digital crime investigations.
  • D. The personal story of a survivor named Mina and her ordeal.

2. According to Refuge’s report, what was the percentage increase in the *most complex* cases of tech-facilitated abuse in late 2025?

  • A. 24%
  • B. 30%
  • C. 62%
  • D. 2025%

3. Which of the following is *not* described as a method abusers use AI and digital technology to harm victims in the article?

  • A. Creating genuinely helpful job opportunities.
  • B. Tracking a person’s physical location.
  • C. Impersonating individuals through fake applications.
  • D. Manipulating smart home devices.

4. In paragraph three, when Emma Pickering states that safety should be a ‘fundamental principle’ rather than an ‘afterthought’ in technology design, what does she mean?

  • A. Safety should be considered secondary to innovation.
  • B. Safety should be an optional addition to devices.
  • C. Safety should be built into the design process from the very beginning.
  • D. Safety should only be addressed once problems have been reported.

5. What was Mina’s main criticism regarding the authorities’ response to her experience with tech abuse?

  • A. They were unable to locate her abuser.
  • B. They did not provide enough emergency accommodation.
  • C. They did not fully comprehend the seriousness of such abuse.
  • D. They lacked interest in her specific case.