In more than 30 interviews with The New York Times, domestic abuse victims, their lawyers, shelter workers and emergency responders described how smart home technology was becoming an alarming new tool. Internet-connected locks, speakers, thermostats, lights and cameras that have been marketed as the newest conveniences are now also being used as a means for harassment, monitoring, revenge and control.
Abusers—using apps on their smartphones, which are connected to the internet-enabled devices—would remotely control everyday objects in the home, sometimes to watch and listen, other times to scare or show power. The people who spoke to The Times about being harassed through smart home gadgetry were all women, many from wealthy enclaves where this type of technology has taken off.
Smart home technology can be easily harnessed for misuse for several reasons. Tools like connected in-home security cameras are relatively inexpensive—some retail for $40—and are straightforward to install. Usually, one person in a relationship takes charge of putting in the technology, knows how it works and has all the passwords. This gives that person the power to turn the technology against the other person.
Legal recourse may be limited. Several law enforcement officials said the technology was too new to have shown up in their cases, although they suspected the activity was occurring.
“I'm sure that it’s happening, ” said Zach Perron, a captain in the police department in Palo Alto, California. “It makes complete sense knowing what I know about the psychology of domestic violence suspects. Domestic violence is largely about control—people think of physical violence but there's emotional violence, too.”
————— 文章来源 / 纽约时报
thermostat/ˈθɜːrməstæt/
n. 温度自动调节器；恒温器
shelter/ˈʃeltər/
n. 收容所；庇护所
market/ˈmɑːrkɪt/
v. 推销；促销
e.g.
Their products are very cleverly marketed.
gadgetry/ˈɡædʒɪtri/
n. （统称）小器具，小装置
e.g.
kitchen / domestic / electronic gadgetry
enclave/ˈenkleɪv/
n. （国家或城市中隶属另一民族或文化的）飞地，孤立地区
harness/ˈhɑːrnɪs/
v. 控制，利用
e.g.
harness natural resources
harness the potential of artificial intelligence
recourse/ˈriːkɔːrs/
n. 依靠；依赖；求助
e.g.
The government, when necessary, has recourse to the armed forces.
domestic abuse
家庭暴力
take off
（产品、活动、事业等）腾飞，突然成功
e.g.
The new product really took off among teens.
turn... against...
（使）与…反目成仇，变得敌对
e.g.
After the divorce he tried to turn the children against their mother.