New South Wales will introduce laws to parliament that would make it a criminal offence to secretly monitor someone with a tracking device when the victim does not know they are being watched and a reasonable person would fear physical or mental harm. [1]
The changes respond to the NSW Crime Commission's Project Hakea report, which found tracking and surveillance devices were being used more often to support domestic violence and organised crime. The report said one in four people who bought tracking devices in NSW had a history of domestic violence, and that 82% of people charged with unlawfully using a tracking device between 2010 and 2023 were involved in domestic violence offences. [1]
Premier Chris Minns said technology had been "weaponised against women, and our laws have not kept pace". The commission report said the tracking "appeared to form part of a series of behaviours that the offender used to prevent the victim from leaving the relationship". [1]
The government said the new offence would be a "carefully crafted, targeted offence" and would not catch parents monitoring social media use or people following someone on social media out of genuine interest. [1]
The proposal will go before parliament, where the government will seek to turn the offence into law. [1]
