Slashdot Mirror
Indian GPS Cartographers Charged As Terrorists
chrb writes "Following on from the discussion about Apple disabling GPS in Egyptian iPhones, we have a new case of the conflict between the traditional secrecy of government, and the widening availability of cheap, accurate GPS devices around the world. On 5th December, two software engineers employed by Biond Software in India were arrested for mapping highways using vehicle based GPS devices. Further evidence against the pair emerged when it was found that a laptop they had been using in the car contained some photos of the local airforce base. The company claims they had been commissioned by Nokia Navigator to create maps of local roads and terrain. Following an investigation by the Anti Terrorist Squad of Gujarat the cartographers have now been charged with violating the Official
Secrets Act and will remain in custody."
How is it defined by our governments?
The dictionary defines it as
"the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion"
It seems that the current *real* definition is "doing anything that a government or a private security employee sees as suspicious."
I am concerned by the lack of clarity and the over-reaching powers given to all kinds of enforcement agencies (I wouldn't call all of these "law-" enforcement).
Are we (the U.S.) becoming a society with anonymous reporting of "suspicious" activity and warrantless arrests? Are we scared enough to allow our guard dogs to tear apart anyone they or their masters don't like, just because?
Who is really safe in such an environment?
Everyone has their rational and semi-rational anxiety, fears and suspicions. Giving power to these is destroying our society and pissing me off.
Obviously we are not ready to fight for our freedoms and therefore don't deserve to be free. Meanwhile it's becoming more difficult and dangerous to do so without having one's own life destroyed (activists ending up on terrorist lists etc.)
The more just, accepted, legitimate, and mature is a nation's government, the less paranoid and totalitarian it becomes.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
I am very pissed at these GPS mapping whores and taking pictures where they are not allowed to. I have had to report to google maps three times about locations that are private and were wrongfully (ignorantly) trespassed and photographed.
These guys are lucky to get arrested. If they were to follow the apparently standard M.O. of trespassing and illegal photography on my property they'd be leaving with slashed tires and a broken nose.
Not to mention the atrocities of the Catholic church. FUCK GOD, FUCK RELIGION, FUCK FAITH.