There is a list that has been released by the United Kingdom that is offering the guidance to all those that have been affected by the smart home gadgets. According to reports, the devices have been used to harass or control the users with unmannerly relationships and it has already been published online. The whole scenario is fundamentally aimed at women and children. One media house went ahead to detail the examples of all technology related facilitated abuse. This involved gadgets being activated using a remote so that they can cause confusion or fear. These devices are remotely controlled to change the temperature and also when locking and unlocking doors.
One user who runs a home for victims of domestic violence in the United States shared her story with one newspaper saying that the victims were losing control of their apartments.
The United Kingdom team that is responsible for the technology abuse list, that includes researchers from the Privacy International and University College London, said that it was developing a better guide and information for the victims of technology-facilitated abuse. The group will offer the same service to those who they are working with. The list that the technology abuse group has prepared includes advice about items that involve the internet. This mainly includes the gadgets and devices that are controlled and connected via the internet. Additionally, they had prepared digital security for all children and women.
Alan Woodward, a cyber-security expert from the University of Surrey, addressed the media saying that the smart gadgets could be instilling fear in the users. The devices turned out to be intimidating especially when the devices are not installed by the consumers. Professor Alan noted that one could be made inferior and stupid if at all they are not able to properly manipulate the devices correctly. Also, it will be challenging to convince a user that they need you for assistance.
Professor Alan also noted that what everyone needed to remember or maybe incorporate is that the consumer-shaming in whatever setting reveals a failure of the designers, not the consumers. Ken Munro, a security Researcher, argued that there were many cases of former partners who were using technology to abuse their exes. In some situations, the only means to lock out the partners from accessing the house was to replace the gadgets completely. He added that it was crucial to review the smart home gadgets especially after a relationship came to an end.
