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Safety & wellbeing

Technology-facilitated abuse

When the phone is used against you.

Phones, social media, smart home devices and tracking tags are increasingly used as tools of control and abuse. If something on your devices feels wrong, trust that instinct. The eSafety Commissioner has specialist help.

Before you change anything, get advice

If someone is monitoring your phone, suddenly removing their access can tip them off and escalate the situation. Please talk to 1800RESPECT or the eSafety Commissioner before changing passwords, removing apps or leaving — they can help you think about timing and safety.

Common forms

  • Location tracking (phone, AirTag, car GPS, Find My Friends, Google Maps location sharing)
  • Account monitoring (shared email, iCloud, Google, social media)
  • Spyware / stalkerware installed on your phone
  • Messages, photos, call logs being read remotely
  • Harassment over messaging, email or social media
  • Non-consensual sharing of intimate images ("image-based abuse")
  • Smart home devices (cameras, doorbells, thermostats) being used to watch or control

The eSafety Commissioner

The eSafety Commissioner is an Australian Government agency with specialist teams for technology-facilitated abuse, image-based abuse and online harassment. Their support is free and confidential. Visit esafety.gov.au and search "adults" or "family and domestic violence."

Small things you can do safely

  • Use a trusted friend's phone or a library computer to research options
  • Open a new email account on a safe device, used only by you
  • Use private/incognito browsing mode when researching this app or services
  • Check if your phone is sharing its location with anyone, in Settings
  • Consider a cheap pre-paid phone kept somewhere private

Again — talk to a safety counsellor first if you can. Sudden changes can sometimes be more dangerous than the original problem.

See all 7 guides in Safety & wellbeing →

General information only — not a substitute for legal, medical, financial, or therapeutic advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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