Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence: Survivors’ experiences and police responses in Greece

This qualitative study adopts a critical realist paradigm informed by feminist epistemology to explore the experiences of survivors of technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV) in Greece. It employs open-ended questionnaires administered to a group of police officers (N=15) and conducts interviews with survivors (N=28) and professionals (N=10), including psychologists (N=2), cyber law experts (N=2), and cybersecurity experts (N=6). The study investigates two primary research questions. Firstly, it delves into the experiences of TFSV survivors, with a particular emphasis on elucidating the compounding effects of TFSV on their lives. Secondly, it scrutinizes the perceptions of TFSV held by Greek police officers and professionals engaged in counseling and support. This inquiry also takes into account their perspectives on the multifaceted challenges involved. In essence, this research contributes vital empirical evidence to an area of study that has remained largely unexplored, unveiling the detrimental impacts of TFSV on survivors and shedding light on the obstacles that hinder its effective mitigation by law enforcement. Furthermore, it underscores the urgency of implementing comprehensive responses to address TFSV, especially in the context of Greece, and highlights the significance of bridging the gaps between law enforcement and support services to empower survivors and combat this burgeoning societal concern.