The Volvo photo ban is part of a general trend. Lawrence Lessig reports two separate incidents of gratuitous no-photo policies at Starbucks. And they try to turn their locations into homey hangouts where people go to be. Who would want to be there if you can't do normal harmless things like taking snapshots of your friends.

In a museum or other place where exploitable copyrighted material exists it makes sense. Elsewhere it's just an invasion on your freedom.