The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (Etsi) has published a technical report to help protect individuals from the misuse of consumer IoT devices.

The Etsi TR 103 936 V1.1.1 (2024-01) report (www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_tr/103900_103999/103936/01.01.01_60/tr_103936v010101p.pdf) covers cyber security, explaining how to implement design practices to mitigate consumer IoT-enabled coercive control. The document addresses the increasingly important issue of safeguarding individuals from coercive control through the misuse of consumer IoT devices.

Coercive control encompasses a range of abusive acts such as security breaches, privacy invasions, harassment, physical assault and other patterns of behaviour that can limit autonomy or cause emotional harm to potential targets.

As IoT devices become more prevalent in homes, the potential for their misuse in coercive and controlling behaviour has risen. The report provides guidelines and design practices for organisations involved in developing and manufacturing consumer IoT devices and associated services. The report aims to reduce the potential misuse of these devices for coercive control while maintaining their intended functionality.

It sheds light on various forms of IoT-enabled abuse, including surveillance, intimidation and control tactics that exploit IoT technologies. The document also emphasises the need for trauma-informed design practices and offers insights into creating coercive control-resistant IoT products.

“Etsi is committed to enhancing the safety and security of IoT devices,” said Alex Leadbeater, chair of Etsi’s technical committee on cyber security. “This report represents a major step forward in understanding and mitigating the risks associated with IoT-enabled coercive control.”

The report is said to be essential reading for anyone involved in the consumer IoT sector, including designers, manufacturers and policymakers. It highlights the importance of considering the broader societal implications of IoT technologies and the need for responsible and ethical design practices.

Etsi (www.etsi.org) provides its members with an open and inclusive environment to support the development, ratification and testing of globally applicable standards for ICT systems and services across all sectors of industry and society. It is a non-profit body, with more than 950 member organisations worldwide, drawn from 64 countries and five continents. The members comprise a diversified pool of large and small private companies, research entities, academia, government, and public organisations. Etsi is officially recognised by the EU as a European Standards Organisation (ESO).