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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

Domestic abuse and the risks and benefits of location sharing apps

domestic violence
Apple's Find My app seen on an iPhone screen
‘My advice to anyone would be not to share your location in the early months of a relationship. Wait until you really know and trust someone.’ Photograph: imageBROKER.com/Alamy

It was good to see the pros and cons of location tracking software being considered in your article (‘If I switch it off, my girlfriend might think I’m cheating’: inside the rise of couples location sharing, 24 July).

One thing that might usefully be added to the debate is a discussion on how location tracking software has become “dual use” in relation to technology-facilitated domestic abuse. The same technology that is used by abusers to exert control is also being used by victim-survivors to enhance their safety.

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