Women’s Safety in Family Law

In an increasingly interconnected world, it’s important to be aware of the safety implications surrounding digital communication and how they can affect your personal security, particularly for women involved in family law cases.

If you’ve shared any photos online, it’s crucial to understand that these can carry embedded information such as your GPS location in the metadata. One safety measure you can take is to only share screenshots of photos taken on your computer, thereby avoiding any unintentional sharing of location data.

While I may be an old school technophile, I appreciate that the landscape of digital safety has evolved over the years. Many popular communication platforms, such as Microsoft Teams or Facetime, use encryption to secure their calls, which can’t be intercepted by law enforcement. However, these platforms may still expose your IP address to savvy users at the other end. This could have two potential implications for you.

Firstly, if you’ve made a call from a landline or home computer linked to your internet service provider, your IP address can often be traced to your general area or even specific suburb. Secondly, if you’ve made a call from your mobile phone, the recipient might be able to discern your service provider.

Coupling this information with your name and date of birth, someone may potentially gain unauthorized access to your accounts. This could lead to the disclosure of your address, especially if your account details are up-to-date.

When engaging in digital communication, particularly in sensitive situations like a Facetime chat with your family, consider making the call from a location that isn’t tied to your daily routine or home address to enhance your privacy.

While it’s not intended to instill fear, it’s crucial to acknowledge these digital safety concerns. The conversation surrounding women’s safety in the context of family law has often overlooked this aspect, which deserves more attention and discussion.

Finally, it’s worth considering the psychological implications of sharing personal items, like a photo, especially in cases involving domestic issues. There’s a potential risk that such an act could incite unwanted attention or prompt someone to locate you.

Remember, each action carries potential risks, so it’s essential to be aware of them and take proactive steps to mitigate these where possible.