Family Courts Confront Rise of Technology-Enabled Coercive Control

In an article published on April 23 in the Daily Business Review, Family Law Attorney Rebecca L. Palmer outlines how technology-enabled coercive control (TECC) is reshaping the way family courts understand and address domestic abuse. Digital tools like smartphones, GPS tracking, social media, shared cloud accounts, and home surveillance have been increasingly used to isolate and intimidate others.

“Coercive control has always been about power, not proximity. Technology has simply removed the last barrier of distance,” said Palmer.

The distinguishing factor of TECC from other forms of abuse is its persistence, following victims into workplaces, schools, and even court proceedings, eliminating any meaningful sanctuary. Family courts are often the first (and sometimes only) forum where these patterns are evaluated and translated into legal protections.

“For family law attorneys, the rise of technology-enabled coercive control demands a more sophisticated approach to advocacy,” Palmer explains. “Practitioners must be prepared to identify patterns of digital abuse, preserve electronic evidence, and educate courts on how these behaviors function as part of a broader coercive scheme.”

Read the story in full; click here (subscriber-based).