Abuse involving smartwatches and rings rising at alarming' rate, charity warns

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"Abusers are increasingly using wearable technology like smartwatches and rings to stalk, harass, and coerce survivors, a leading domestic abuse charity has warned. New data released by Refuge shows a 62 per cent rise in referrals to its technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment team in 2025 to 829, up from 512 in 2024. The charity said the rise is being driven by the increasing accessibility and reach of wearable technology that allows abusers to stalk, surveil and control survivors even from a distance."

"Emma Pickering, who is head of the tech abuse team at Refuge, told The Independent she believes technology companies need to do more to safeguard their products, adding it is unacceptable for the safety of women and children to be an afterthought. Wearable technology is cheaper to purchase than ever before, she said. It's integrated into all of our lives and we can't really avoid it even if we want to."

Abusers are increasingly using wearable devices such as smartwatches and rings to stalk, harass and coerce survivors, driving a 62 percent rise in referrals to Refuge's technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment team in 2025 (829 referrals, up from 512 in 2024). The rise is linked to greater accessibility and reach of wearable health technology that enables remote surveillance and control. Emma Pickering, head of Refuge's tech abuse team, called for technology companies to strengthen product safeguards and warned that treating the safety of women and children as an afterthought is unacceptable. Wearable devices are cheaper and widely integrated into daily life, complicating avoidance.

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