Gender and IoT (Internet of Things) resource list

[Scribblegirl]

www.ucl.ac.uk/steapp/research/projects/digital-policy-lab/g-iot-resource-list

A team at UCL has put together this resource list for victims of domestic abuse who are concerned about further abuse enabled by the Internet of Things. Spotted this on Twitter and thought it was worth sharing - I've not looked into all the resources listed but it looks like it's a useful source of info.

The thread title is exactly what the compilers of the list decided to call it. Not clear to me why, because people of either sex may be either abused by or abusers of IoT.

Sorry you’re quite right, I’d only read the guardian article when I posted.

There is also a horrible thing where men scare children via baby monitors. It's very easy to hack into these things.

I'd never consent to these things. A d thank God my first husband didn't have tech assistance to harass me when he was stalking me.

DH can see where I am which is useful for telling our 3 year old when I’m nearly home and fir getting the dinner on (he’s a SAHD).

But the vast majority of people coming home from work are going to be more or less in the same place at the same time most nights.

Even for those for whom that doesn't apply why does anyone's partner need to see where they are? If it is important to let the other person know what time they will be home why doesn't a simple text- "leaving work now/ on the 5.30/ train is late/ stuck in traffic" suffice?

Sorry, OP here, posted when I was really short on time but thought it would be good to flag. Wasn’t sure about posting in relationships v here but thought as an academic resource it was better suited here, I’ll take some time to repost this evening in relationships with a more digestible heading (copy/pasted on lunch hour!)

I guess the reason I shared was that I notice so many threads popping up on the relationships board about the use of tech monitoring women in abusive relationships, and even more broadly just how these devices creep into our homes under the guise of being useful when in fact with a malicious mind behind them they can be used for something very different. I agree it’s not in a form that’s very digestible for women in an abusive relationship, however, as someone who is a feminist and works loosely in this area (legal side of IoT regulation, fledgling as it is) I was surprised by the fact I hadn’t thought about the impact of this area on vulnerable people.

I've asked MNHQ if they'd be interested in highlighting the information/issues, the mod who answered said she'd forward to the campaigns team, no promises but from where she sits this looks interesting.

If any of you have personal/professional knowledge which you might not want to share on a public thread which would assist them and lend weight it sounds as though they would be receptive.

Xpost with the OP.

Thanks Errol. it’s the sort of thing I think would lend brilliantly to a campaign if we had some people behind it who really know what they’re talking about. I’m aware of the difficulties from a data protection angle but if someone was really clued in I think it could be useful.

Great idea Errol

I notice so many threads popping up on the relationships board about the use of tech monitoring women in abusive relationships, and even more broadly just how these devices creep into our homes under the guise of being useful

I likewise worry about that because it's an increasingly recurrent issue. And I'm aware, IRL, of people with dubious friends/family members who scan some rooms for devices after visits.

In my family, we occasionally discuss how much easier it would be to organise care for/outings with family members who are ill (Including dementia or other cognitive issues including chemo brain) if we used locator apps, home-based web cams etc.

However, it's precisely because we can't be confident of informed consent and are alert to the potential for abuse that we don't. Altho' we know that this means some opportunities are missed.