> Only on HN is app-based remote monitoring seen as potentially worse than being IN JAIL.
That's a bit of a strawman - there are other ethical issues at play here. Some people don't have smartphones. Others will have theirs lost/stolen/broken. Do they go back to jail?
Is it a local thing to have incredibly cheap smart devices? I can go a town over in the rural US and get a cheap smartphone for like $30 with a prepaid plan. Granted, I can't imagine it would be an amazing experience to use, but far better than jail.
$30 is a lot for some people, especially those facing jail. Then there's paying for data. The app might not work on the older Android version that's on a $30 device. People with intellectual disabilities may struggle with a mobile phone.
None of these things should wind up determining whether a person goes to jail or not, but that's a risk here.
That's a bit of a strawman - there are other ethical issues at play here. Some people don't have smartphones. Others will have theirs lost/stolen/broken. Do they go back to jail?