Smart Home Tech is the New Weapon in Domestic Abuse

Smart home technology may add convenience to our lives, but there’s a darker side, too. The New York Times explores how domestic abusers are using smarthome devices to control and gaslight their victims. Reports of smart home devices in domestic abuse cases has been on the rise over the past year, too. From the report:

One woman had turned on her air-conditioner, but said it then switched off without her touching it. Another said the code numbers of the digital lock at her front door changed every day and she could not figure out why. Still another told an abuse help line that she kept hearing the doorbell ring, but no one was there.

It’s a stark reminder that abusers will find a way to turn anything into a weapon against their victims.

Philips Adds Motion Sensor to its Smart Home Lineup

Philips is adding a motion sensor to its Hue smart bulb product line that’ll turn on your lights when you walk into a room. The Hue Motion Sensor runs on two AAA batteries so you can place it anywhere that works for you, can pair with specific light control scenes for day and night, has adjustable sensitivity, and is smart enough to leave the lights off when it’s still light out. The Hue Motion Sensor will be available in October for US$39.95.