IoT misuse in intimate partner cyberstalking : an exploration of Finland

Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT)-facilitated intimate partner cyberstalking is an emerging and under-recognised form of abuse globally, but also within the Finnish context. This study explores the intersection of IoT device misuse and intimate partner cyberstalking, addressing a significant and evident gap in Finnish research. It examines the key patterns of IoT abuse, perpetrator motivations, and the barriers to effective prevention and intervention through qualitative interviews with Finnish professionals, offering a deep contextual understanding. The research findings suggest systemic weaknesses across four levels: interpersonal, technological, institutional, and societal. Specifically, the study identifies widespread device weaknesses, perpetrator justifications for abuse, and significant gaps in legislation, policing response, and societal recognition and awareness. This study contributes to the limited body of literature on IoT-facilitated intimate partner cyberstalking in the Finnish context by demonstrating how technological vulnerabilities, perpetrator psychology, and institutional weaknesses interact to enable abuse. The findings highlight the necessity of proactive regulation, cross-sectoral awareness, and a multidisciplinary support structure to prevent and minimise the normalisation and escalation of intimate partner cyberstalking facilitated by IoT.