Spying in spousal or family relationships has always occurred to some extent, but the increasing affordability and accessibility of spyware, the evolution of technology, and blurred lines around acceptable and unacceptable forms of tracking are all factors that have contributed to the rise in spying in recent years. There has been a significant uptick in the percentage of cases in which one spouse is spying on the other—from approximately 20% in my firm in 2022 to around 40% in 2023.
Traditionally, clients would provide audio recordings or CCTV footage, but as technology continues to develop, the type of equipment used in a family law context is constantly changing. Now, we often see cases involving dash cams, car trackers and even secret cameras hidden in soft toys.
We’ve also recently been made aware of an iPhone charging device containing a micro-transmitter that enables spyware to be deployed and data to be accessed from a phone on charge. While this
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