“Multiliteracies for Inclusive Technologies: A Case Study on Location-Based Services and Domestic Violence Survivors”

by Jennifer Roth Miller | Xchanges 12.1

Domestic Violence Survivors & Geolocation: A Case Study

Feminist standpoint theory advocates for examining issues from the perspectives of marginalized groups (Anderson, 2012). For survivors of domestic violence, exposing real-time location information or activity patterns can literally jeopardize their safety. Considering the experiences of marginalized groups like domestic violence survivors could provide insight that could lead to more malleable interface designs that could accommodate privacy needs more flexibly.

Stalking and harassment have been key aspects of domestic violence offline, but social media, text messaging, and the Internet add a new avenue for abusers to harass and harm survivors (Dimond, Fiesler, & Bruckman, 2011). Smartphone interfaces default to allow access to geolocation services and do not easily allow alternative options for survivors who are involved in relationships that do not fit the mainstream view of a healthy intimate partner relationship.

Social media sites such as Facebook are documented as a modern tool to aid abusers in the development of unhealthy relationships, control, and relationship aggression (Brem, Spiller, & Vandehey, 2014). Recent research shows these behaviors exist online and predict the behaviors online will also result in aggression. Additional research highlights the difficulties technologies present to survivors in leaving abusive relationships (Halligan, Knox, & Brinkley, 2013). Survivors surveyed reported difficulty in separating from their smartphones, giving abusers direct contact to them when they wished to be distanced.

Lemon (2011) considered the legal aspects of new technologies and their impact on domestic violence. Location-based technologies such as GPS have been used to provide justice to survivors by the legal system, yet these technologies are used against them at the same time. On one hand, courts will issue GPS monitoring systems to track convicted abusers confirming they are respecting injunctions and restraining orders. On the other hand, offenders utilize GPS and the Internet to track and locate survivors making it more difficult for them to start a new life.

Southworth et al. (2007) examined ways criminals are using modern technologies to harass, control, and harm domestic violence survivors. Criminals use technologies from email, to GPS, spyware, cell phones, and fax. Smartphones naturally bring many of the technologies abusers typically utilize to monitor and track survivors together in one device. Southworth et al. (2007) also express needs for digital literacy education and efforts to help survivors understand how tech-savvy abusers use modern technologies cumulatively to monitor, track, control, and harm them.

Domestic violence is a complex psychological issue. Survivors often still love abusers and want to forgive them and give them another chance. They may also have had good times and can’t let go of the possibility they could be happy again with the person who hurt them. In addition, they may either want to or be required to be accessible for the sake of other family members such as children. It’s not as clear as the relationship being completely over.