Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation, is proud to announce the return of its Tech Safety Summit – the UK’s only conference dedicated entirely to addressing the growing problem of technology-facilitated abuse – following its successful launch last year.
Organised and led by Refuge’s specialist Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment (TFAEE) team – the only one of its kind in the UK – the Summit will take place online this September 23-24.
With domestic abuse being increasingly perpetrated using technology, the conference will address a number of growing threats, from intimate image abuse to the weaponisation of stalkerware and spycams to track and harass survivors.
Here are five reasons why technology experts and enthusiasts should attend this vital event.
1. Stay at the forefront of the charge against emerging forms of tech abuse
Technology-facilitated abuse is now one of the most dangerously under-reported forms of violence against women and girls, with the last five years seeing an explosion of abusive behaviours facilitated by technology and even accelerated by AI.
From nudification apps and deepfakes to invasive location tracking, the weaponisation of emerging technologies, including novel AI tools, has had a devastating effect on the lives of thousands of women in the UK and beyond.
A recent UK-wide poll commissioned by Refuge found that fewer than 1 in 3 people would report certain types of digital coercion, such as location tracking (30%) or someone demanding phone access, if it happened to them or someone they know.
Just 58% would report the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, falling to 44% among 18–24-year-olds, highlighting the urgent need for tech-facilitated abuse to be treated like the serious crime it is.
Refuge’s Tech Safety Summit gives attendees the chance to engage in conversations and workshops led by industry experts, providing unique insights into the latest strategies and solutions aimed at tackling this hidden crisis.
2. Help shape vital new solutions
Tackling the complex issue of tech abuse will require innovative new ways of thinking, and by bringing together leading experts across sectors, the Tech Safety Summit promises to be the ideal forum for exactly that.
The Summit will explore a range of innovative, survivor-informed solutions, including ‘safety by design’ approaches, tagging technology to prevent the spread of intimate images, and the dual role of generative AI (GenAI) as both a tool for harm and a potential safeguard.
Panel sessions will address new and evolving dangers – from dark web forums that exploit survivors to the harms caused by AI chatbots – as well as the cutting-edge digital tools designed to enhance survivor safety.
3. See the real-world impact of tech innovation
The knowledge and insights gathered throughout the two-day event will highlight how we can use cutting-edge technology to empower and protect survivors.
The number of referrals to Refuge’s dedicated sector-leading TFAEE team increased by 205% between 2018 and 2024, highlighting the urgent need for solutions that keep pace with the sophisticated new technologies that are increasingly being weaponised by perpetrators of abuse.
Attending the Tech Safety Summit and hearing from expert speakers and panellists will illuminate the huge amount of work being done in this space, and why it is so crucial that cross-sector collaboration continues.
4. Hear from an unmissable line-up of speakers
To address such an important set of issues, the Summit will bring together some of the top minds and academics in their fields today.
Expert speakers, guests and panellists at the Tech Safety Summit include:
- Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes
- Minister of State for the Future Digital Economy and Online Safety, Baroness Jones
- Adolescence writer Jack Thorne
- Author and online safety campaigner Adele Walton
- BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire
- TV presenter Rachel Riley
Sponsored by tech giants including Microsoft, the Summit boasts more than 50 leading speakers across 25 sessions.
There will be dedicated forums to put your questions directly to the speakers following presentations and talks, so don’t miss out on your chance to hear from some of the best and brightest minds around.
5. Network across sectors with key thought leaders
The Tech Safety Summit is also a great opportunity to meet the like-minded individuals and stakeholders who are playing a key role in eliminating technology-facilitated abuse.
The scale of gender-based tech-facilitated abuse underscores the urgent need for cross-collaboration in designing innovative solutions and policy frameworks to protect survivors.
Alongside its impressive line-up of speakers and panellists, the Summit offers a chance to connect with key members of the VAWG sector, including activists, policy-makers, healthcare professionals, tech enthusiasts, police, and more.
If you want to help play your part in the fight against online abuse, and lead the charge in developing meaningful solutions, join Refuge on September 23-24 for this must-attend event - and use code ‘SUMMIT20’ for an exclusive discount.