"I'd be very surprised if the US is not already doing this, and just not making a point to let anyone know. "

This is exactly how they will manage to get these laws passed. You all think they are already doing these illegal activities, so when they say "can we do this?", you reply "Sure! You may as well, you are doing it already anyhow...".

Well, here's the news: They are _not_ already doing this!
Stop watching 24, or any other Spy / Law TV show.

Do not assume you are already living under a surveillance society, because if you do, then you *will* find out later that you let them do it.

I've been following this story for a few days now, increasingly concerned as it impacts the ability for people to use GPS to map their own environments, and because I think Nokia/Navteq should make a statement.

Today, Milind Dalvi from Biond Software has answered some of my questions, and have given some important clarifications.

http://thinkwhere.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/indian-mappers-still-under-arrest-update/
including: "All the work is being exclusively done for Nokia subsidiary Navteq Survey team had carried with them a digital camera in their personal capacity and was used to capture photographs of themselves, places visited etc., like any other tourist would. Please note that this was not a part of their work and was done as a hobby / tourist activity"