Mapping the Empirical Evidence on Technology Facilitated Coercive Control in Domestic Abuse: A Rapid Scoping Review

Technology facilitated coercive control (TFCC) refers to the use of digital technologies—such as smartphones, GPS tracking, spyware/stalkerware, social media, and smart home devices—to monitor, intimidate, isolate, or otherwise exert power over an intimate partner. These digitally mediated forms of coercive control extend traditional patterns of domestic abuse and present new challenges for safeguarding, local authority responses, and frontline practice. This review uses a rapid scoping approach, following methodological guidance from rapid review frameworks, which emphasise structured, transparent planning; defensible streamlining of study selection; and timely evidence production for decision making contexts. The purpose is to map the empirical evidence base: the populations involved, the technologies used, the nature of coercive/controlling behaviours, study methods, settings, and thematic findings. This review does not assess effectiveness but instead provides an overview of what is known and where evidence gaps remain.