A New South Wales court has introduced a highly unusual ankle monitor selfie rule for bail supervision. This comes after the sudden collapse of the private company that provided electronic ankle monitoring services across the state, forcing officials to create new oversight methods almost overnight.
From Ankle Monitor to Hourly Photos
For months, murder suspect Ayman Manly lived under strict bail conditions, including virtual house arrest and a $5 million surety. As part of his restrictions, he wore an ankle monitor to track his movements in real time. That changed abruptly when the device provider ceased operations, leading the NSW government to scrap ankle monitoring entirely. All devices are now scheduled for removal by September 12, 2025.
Justice Richard Weinstein ruled that Manly must instead send a clear selfie to police every hour between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. To ensure location verification, Manly must also carry an iPhone with “Find My iPhone” tracking enabled at all times. He must keep the device fully charged and within reach.
Reliability Concerns
Critics question the effectiveness of the ankle monitor selfie approach. While hourly selfies offer some proof of compliance, they can be staged, manipulated, or delayed. Unlike an ankle monitor, selfies do not provide continuous, tamper-proof location data. Legal experts warn that the policy depends heavily on the subject’s cooperation and on timely police review of the images.
Why NSW Made the Change
Authorities had few alternatives when ankle monitoring became unavailable. The collapse of the provider left hundreds of cases without functioning tracking, creating an urgent need for replacement measures. Hourly selfies emerged as a temporary compromise that could be implemented immediately without new hardware or infrastructure.
Conclusion
The ankle monitor selfie rule highlights the challenges of balancing public safety with sudden gaps in law enforcement technology. While the measure offers a stopgap solution, its long-term effectiveness remains untested. As NSW phases out ankle monitors, other jurisdictions will watch closely to see if this unusual approach can stand up to real-world enforcement demands.
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