The double-edged sword in the fight against domestic violence

It’s an insidious issue, one that is often only spoken about in hushed tones or not at all.

"Mobile phones are more than just a communication tool, they’re a life-saving device. Used by victims to contact emergency services, research organisations who can assist them, and maintain connections with friends and family as they are often left isolated.”However, for the one in five Australians who have experienced partner violence or abuse, the silence is a big part of the problem.

Domestic violence transcends gender identity, sexuality, race and socio-economics. In the realm of societal challenges, few issues have such a broad and complex scope, and demand our urgency more.

As Australia comes to terms with the sobering statistics and harrowing narratives flooding our newsfeeds in recent years, the epidemic can seem insurmountable to individuals wanting to take meaningful and practical action.

Yet, small grassroots organisations like DV Safe Phone are stepping up in a big way. I sat down with DV Safe Phone founder and CEO Ashton Wood to discuss this issue and how technology stands as a double-edged sword in the fight against it. 

{CF_AUDIO}

Ashton’s time in the corporate world meant he, like so many of us, churned through mobile phones with every update. Filling boxes and draws with still functioning, but less fashionable handsets.

It wasn’t until a conversation with an ex-police officer in Queensland about the sorts of donations required by the community did he realise their potential impact.

“I said to her ‘you need mobile phones? I've got two in my drawer, you can have them right now’. And she said those phones could save a life.”

From that, DV Safe Phone was born. The organisation collects, restores and donates mobile phones to victims of domestic violence through registered charities, safe houses and authorities - offering them life-changing technology and reducing e-waste in landfills.

Acknowledging the scale

Speaking to the ex-officer, Ashton admits he didn’t understand the magnitude of the issue. She indicated more than 2 million domestic violence victims required emergency phones and he wondered which countries that number covered.

“She said, ‘what rock are you living under? This is just here in Australia’.”

Mobile phones are more than just a communication tool, they’re a life-saving device. Used by victims to contact emergency services, research organisations who can assist them and maintain connections with friends and family as they are often left isolated.

However, as Ashton explains during domestic violence “the phone is one of the first things to be tracked, monitored or taken.”

{CF_IMAGE}

Technology Facilitated Abuse

One in two Australians have experienced Technology Facilitated Abuse (TFA) at some point in their lifetime.

TFA can occur both during a relationship and after separation and while it may appear to differ from more typical imaginings of domestic violence, the goal is the same – intimidation, coercion and control.

“Unfortunately phones can also be weaponised. Perpetrators can use them to see where victims are. They can use them to harass them. They can isolate them through their mobile phone, through technology,” Ashton says.

Technology gives perpetrators round-the-clock access to their targets through both low-tech (abusive text messages and phone calls) and high-tech (malicious spyware) forms.

Ashton emphasises the need for education around TFA and technology in general. One area was educating domestic violence agencies to warn victims not to sign in to existing accounts when they were provided with a new phone.

“These agencies are dealing with crisis, they’re dealing with accommodation and food and rehoming kids and pets, they’ve got a lot of things to deal with,” Ashton says. "They haven’t come through a technology background like we have.”

DV Safe Phone realised in addition to providing technology, guidance was needed on how it can be weaponised and the steps to avoid this – such as setting up new user identities not linked to old accounts.

From 2 to 22,000

Since that conversation in 2020 and the promise of the two mobile phones in Ashton’s drawer, DV Safe Phone has received over 22,000 donated mobile phones.

Ashton explains that about one third of the phones donated work perfectly, meaning DV Safe Phone recently sent out it’s 8,000^th phone. “That's 8,000 lives protected with a free mobile phone,” he says.

Roughly another third of donated phones can be repaired with the remainder being beyond repair.  This raised the issue of how to dispose of these phones in an environmentally safe way while also protecting people’s data.

A partnership with Mobile Muster was formed to ensure all data is destroyed and components from unusable phones are transformed into materials for reuse. 

What can you do?

In a recent study, Mobile Muster estimates there are 24.5 million phones in storage across Australia. That’s a lot of phones that could be help save a life.

“The easiest way to get involved is to donate phones or funds,” Ashton says.

DV Safe Phone has an interactive map on its website showing the nearest donation box.

Lastly, if you are experiencing domestic violence and are in immediate danger, please call 000. If you require a mobile phone or any other services, you can find DV Safe Phone’s beneficiaries here.

Catherine Lockstone is Capability Area Lead, Quality Engineering at ANZ