So what if they were collecting images or ideas for their next game? Do Greek authorities actually believe that between Google Earth and everything else on the ‘net that terrorists don’t have all the info they need to plot and scheme? This is to say nothing of potentially hostile states with even greater resources. Wouldn’t a charge of espionage require the authorities to prove some connection between the picture-takers and a threatening entity? Sorry, but if I can get close enough to something to snap high-quality pics of it with (presumably) consumer camera gear and still be on public ground, the authorities have nothing to complain about. Don’t want people looking at your military installations? Create a mile-wide buffer zone around it or put up 20 foot high barriers – or both. What you wanna bet there are homes almost touching the walls of this base, from which locals can see everything that’s happening all the time?

I agree with psycros that is silly. I however do not see why I or others should rally to their support. Either they broke the law or they did not. If not then no sweat, if they did then you pay the consequences.

People seem to forget that you do not get the freedoms elsewhere and you are not free to do anything you want.

Here’s the thing about making this “a cause”: these guys could simply be being made an example of by Greece. Nations will often take advantage of visitors this way for political purposes, even at the risk of harming tourism. Now, if these guys truly did ignore obvious warnings or the like about picture-taking, then its on their heads totally. However, should the facts indicate this was an innocent mistake by an ignorant foreigner, then Greece needs to take that into consideration. That country needs all the goodwill it can get right now.

I’m hearing multiple versions of this story.

On the one hand, there’s the story by Bohemia Interactive that they were on vacation and were NOT taking photos for Arma III (in which case it would’ve been an innocent mistake by an ignorant foreigner).

On the other hand, I’ve heard that they WERE taking photos for Arma III (which features the island of Lemnos, where they were arrested, as its primary setting), in which case they would (or should) have known that what they were doing was illegal.

Even in the U.S., where the courts have ruled again-and-again that people may not be forbidden from recording that which is in public view, if I stopped on U.S. Route 2 heading through North Dakota and photographed Minuteman Launch Facility J-4 (just a few yards off the road), I would probably be getting a visit from Minot Air Force Base security, who has brand new shiny M-4s and a .30 cal machine gun mounted on their HUMVEE. (Being the U.S., however, they will likely give you a warning and leave, and if you continue taking photographs, they will probably have the county sheriff arrest you for Disorderly Conduct.)

(The Minuteman launch facilities are considered off limits. They have signs which say “Restricted Area” and federal statute considers these areas off limits in terms of photography. Even photographing these areas from a distance, such as while standing on a publicly traveled highway such as US Route 2, is prohibited. If you climb the fence, they will SHOOT you first, and ask questions later.)

The long-short is this: If it is viewable from public land, you may take photos of aircraft and historical buildings, but NOT of any restricted areas without applying for and receiving permission from the base commander first (and even if you have permission, expect to be assigned a liason to tell you what you can and cannot photograph). I would not at all be surprised if Greece had similar laws.

More importantly, I have a friend who lives in Greece, and he tells me this: “The military base on Lemnos… home to the entire 88th Military Command, not to mention the air force and naval assets based on the island… has a big No Photography Allowed sign, complete with a no-camera icon. If you stand outside the base and start taking detailed photographs with your DSLR and 70-300 lens, expect to be arrested if caught.”

So even if they WERE just there on vacation, unless they somehow failed to notice the huge “no photography” sign, there is no way they could not have known that what they were doing was illegal.

P.S., having said that entire big wall of text, with so much public attention, it is likely that the two will probably be given a slap on the wrist and deported as “Persona non grata” (in other words, “don’t come back”). Worst case scenario? If I had the money to do it, I’d lay bets on a maximum of 3 years in prison and/or fines.