Protective Group

Technology helps us stay connected, work, learn and manage our lives. But it can also be misused to monitor, control, threaten and intimidate.

That is the reality of technology-facilitated abuse, and it is becoming an increasingly common feature of family, domestic and sexual violence.

This is why it must be understood not only as a response issue, but as a prevention issue too. It reflects the same attitudes of control, entitlement and disrespect that drive other forms of abuse.

Join White Ribbon Australia online for an important event on technology-facilitated abuse, presented by Claire Hurst, alongside Stephen Wilson, CEO of Protective Group and Jenny Moore, Technology Strategist from Microsoft.

Together, they will unpack how everyday technology can be misused, share real-life examples, and provide practical ways to strengthen safety, respond early and seek support.

Book your place now: https://events.humanitix.com/white-ribbon-australia-tfa

When people are travelling, it can feel very normal to share a live location with a friend, tag a café, use a map app, check in at a venue, or rely on apps that automatically show where they are. Many of these features are designed for convenience and connection. But in some situations, they can also create serious safety risks.

If a perpetrator still has access to a shared account, an old phone, a family group, a synced tablet, a child’s device, or location settings that have not been fully checked, they may be able to see far more than expected. This may include where someone is staying, where they are travelling, how long they remain in one place, the route they are taking, or whether they are alone. Even when a person has not intentionally shared their location, some apps and devices may still be doing so quietly in the background.

For victim-survivors, this is why holiday safety is not only about the destination itself. It is also about understanding what information phones, apps, photos and linked devices may be automatically sharing.

Protective Group recommend:
• review who can see your location in apps such as Find My, Google, Snapchat, Facebook, Messenger and Life360
• check whether location sharing is active through family groups, shared accounts or device settings
• turn off location sharing that is not absolutely needed
• avoid posting holiday updates, check-ins or tagged locations in real time
• review app permissions and consider which apps actually need access to location services
• check whether photos are storing location data before sending or posting them
• be mindful that smartwatches, tablets, children’s devices and shared family apps may also reveal whereabouts
• look at whether old devices are still linked to your account and able to receive updates or location information
• consider who can see your posts, stories and account activity while you are away

A careful settings check before leaving, and again while away, can make a meaningful difference. Small privacy steps can help reduce unwanted location sharing and better protect safety, privacy and peace of mind while travelling.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.

When planning a holiday, people focus on staying safe once they arrive, but sometimes the risk starts much earlier.

Flight bookings, accommodation confirmations, rideshare receipts, shared calendars, saved destinations in map apps, and email notifications can all reveal where someone is going, when they are leaving, and where they plan to stay.

If a perpetrator still has access to a shared email account, old device, synced tablet, family calendar, booking app or cloud account, those details may be easier to see than people realise.

Before going away, it can help to check which email address receives travel confirmations and whether that email is signed in on any other devices. It is also worth reviewing whether calendars are shared, whether map apps are storing recent searches, and whether lock screen notifications may display booking details without even opening the phone.

Protective Group recommend:
• checking that travel bookings are being sent to a safe email account
• reviewing shared calendars and removing anything that reveals dates, times or locations
• signing out of old or shared devices that may still receive account notifications
• changing passwords on important accounts if there are concerns someone else may still have access
• turning off lock screen previews for emails, messages and booking notifications
• clearing recent searches in maps, rideshare and travel apps where appropriate
• being mindful that children’s devices or shared family accounts may also show plans or saved locations

For many victim-survivors, safety planning for a holiday is not only about the destination itself. It is also about limiting the digital trail that may quietly reveal movement, routine and location before the trip has even begun.

Small checks can make a meaningful difference and help keep travel plans more private.

Visit protectivegroup.com.au/safety-tips/ for more safety tips.

If you are concerned about yourself, family member or friend please call:
Australia: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support services or if in danger now call 000.
New Zealand: 0800 733 843 or if in danger now call 111.