New Act Funds Tech Experts and Education to Combat Digital Stalking and Abuse Against Victims

This bill, officially the Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Act, is a direct response to a nasty modern problem: abusers using technology to harass, stalk, and control their victims. The legislation sets up two new grant programs designed to inject specialized tech expertise into victim support networks and fund widespread education on digital abuse tactics.

The Digital Reality of Abuse

Congress opened the bill with some sobering statistics, noting that 97% of victim support programs reported that abusers are using technology to stalk or control people. This isn't just about high-tech spy gear; it ranges from unwanted texts and emails (reported by 67% of victims) to using social media to track activities (35%) or even installing monitoring software on phones and computers (19%). The core idea here is simple: since technology is now the weapon, technology needs to be part of the defense.

The $30 Million Plan: Tech Experts on the Front Lines

The bill’s biggest move is establishing a 5-year pilot program to fund “Eligible Consortia.” Think of this as pairing up the people who know how to fix computers and stop hacks—like university computer science departments or private tech firms—with the people who know how to help victims—local domestic violence and sexual violence centers. This is about integrating cybersecurity smarts directly into victim services.

Under this pilot, the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women can award up to 15 grants, with each grant capped at $2,000,000. The money can be used to purchase new tech devices for survivors (like a secure phone) and for general victim services, provided those services help reduce technological abuse. For example, a local center could use this grant to hire a dedicated tech liaison to help survivors check their devices for hidden stalkerware, change digital security settings, and secure their online presence. The catch is that the consortia need a letter of support from local government, which might make it harder for smaller, newer groups to get funding (SEC. 3).

Funding the Fight Against Digital Ignorance

In addition to the pilot program, the bill creates a separate grant program focused entirely on education. This program authorizes up to $20,000,000 over five years to be awarded to nonprofits and colleges. Their mission? To create educational tools, training materials, and resources about technological abuse (SEC. 5). This is crucial because, as the bill notes, technology changes so fast that advocates need constantly updated resources to advise victims effectively.

If you work at a victim service center, this means you might soon have access to sophisticated, federally funded training on the latest tech abuse tactics. If you’re a survivor, this means the advocates you turn to will be better equipped to help you secure your digital life, whether that’s resetting your smart home devices or locking down your social media. It’s about building a national knowledge base to keep up with the speed of digital harassment.

What Happens Next?

This isn't a permanent program yet. The pilot program is required to report back to Congress—first within three years and then again one year after the program ends (five years after the first grant)—to review its effectiveness and recommend whether it should be made permanent (SEC. 4). This structure is smart; it tests out a new approach (integrating tech and victim services) before committing long-term funding. For the busy professional, this bill means that if you or someone you know ever needs help escaping an abusive situation, the resources available will be far more equipped to handle the digital dimension of that danger.