Tech-based Coercive Control: Study Reveals ‘Concerning Normalization’ of Red Flags

Australians’ attitudes towards ‘red flag’ coercive control behaviors using technology have been revealed in a new study, with nearly a quarter believing it’s reasonable to expect to have passwords or codes to a partner’s personal devices.
The new study, which will be published in full in 2025, surveyed over 2,000 Australian adults and looked at people’s attitudes towards a range of behavior that could be considered red flags for tech-based coercive control by a partner.

Over 23 per cent agreed or strongly agreed it’s reasonable to expect to have passwords or codes to an intimate partner’s personal devices, while 13.6 per cent agreed or strongly agreed it’s reasonable to expect to be able to track an intimate partner whenever they want using location-sharing apps such as Find My Friends.

Difference between Men’s and Women’s Attitudes towards Red Flag Behaviors

The study also found many people agreed that insisting on checking how someone looks in a photo before they share it online, wanting a partner to be constantly available over the phone, and constantly texting to check who a partner is with or what they’re doing are all usually signs of care from an intimate partner.

However, there were some stark differences between men’s and women’s attitudes towards these red flag behaviors:

  • Men were almost twice as likely to agree constantly texting to ask who a partner is with or what they’re doing is a sign of care compared to women (20.1 per cent to 10.4 per cent).
  • Men were more than twice as likely to agree that wanting a partner to be constantly available to respond to texts, calls, or video chats was a sign of care (26.3 per cent to 11.8 per cent).
  • And men were far more likely to agree that expecting to have passwords or codes to personal devices was a reasonable expectation from partners (28.2 per cent to 18.7 per cent).

Perpetrators ‘Upskilling’

Technology-facilitated coercive control is connected to intimate partner violence and one Australian study found that all victim-survivors of online abuse had also experienced sexual, physical, financial, and psychological abuse.

Dr. Bridget Harris, director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, told SBS News tech-based coercive control is common in family and domestic violence situations because tech is everywhere.

“Because tech is such a big part of our lives, we use tech for education, for employment, socially, managing our household, managing our health, for instance—it’s really common that perpetrators will be weaponizing technology,” she said.

While most perpetrators use basic tech skills such as text messages, voice calls, and social media to exert control, monitor, harass, or stalk victim-survivors, Harris said others have a higher skill set and more confidence—and the number of these perpetrators is growing.

“Tech software that we used to think of as really high-tech are much cheaper than they used to be,” Harris said.
“Also, unfortunately, it’s quite easy for perpetrators to upskill to learn more to share strategies with other perpetrators that help them further weaponize technology.”
Harris said tech-based coercive control can also stop victim-survivors from seeking help.

“If you suspect or you worry that your technology is being monitored, it’s a huge deterrent to help-seeking and also exiting violent relationships, so it’s a big barrier for victim-survivors,” she said.

Coercive Control Laws

Coercive control has now been criminalized in NSW and Queensland, while Western Australia and South Australia have each committed to criminalizing it.

Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory have retained more general family violence acts.
While she believes Australia “might see positive results” with coercive control laws, Harris said laws around stalking or surveillance may also be used effectively to prosecute tech-based coercive control.
Harris also said states and territories may see “unintended but not unforeseen consequences” with coercive control laws, such as further disadvantaging First Nations women who report family and domestic violence and who can be frequently misidentified as offenders rather than victim-survivors.
“I think it’s really important that we’re monitoring how these laws are and are not working.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.

The Men’s Referral Service provides advice for men on domestic violence and can be contacted on 1300 766 491.

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