Everyday tracking and extraordinary harm: item finder misuse in digital coercive control

Purpose
Where one in three women worldwide experience some form of intimate partner violence, the rise of technology facilitated abuse means that abusers have increased access and control over their victims. This extension paper aims to examine the threat potential for technology misuse as pertains to item finder devices that make up part of the Internet-of-Things. Item finders have increasingly become the weapon of choice for abusers leveraging technological advantages against their victims.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining digital ethnography with 12 individuals engaged in a participant study to evaluate the misuse potential of Apple AirTag, Chipolo One and Tile Sticker item finders.

Findings
The study shows a concerning lack of preventative measures imposed by device vendors to prevent device misuse; highlighting how easily perpetrators can repurpose item finder devices as a mechanism for stalking. This suggests an urgent need for review regarding the provision of guidance and support to victims of domestic abuse.

Originality/value
The authors present novel findings through a simulated stalking scenario in which participants provided informed consent to have their movements remotely monitored over a total of four weeks in the participant study. Whilst previous studies on item finders in a domestic violence context have focused on software or hardware architecture, the participant study examines the practical implications of device misuse upon victims of digital coercive control.