Aaron’s, the Atlanta-based rent-to-own franchise, is being sued by over confidentiality issues by a Wyoming couple. A computer they rented was used to spy on them in their home, the couple alleges. The suit has raised problems about privacy and the ethics of cyber technology.
Picture taken with the computer that was rented
The supposed violations came to light on Dec. 22 of last year when a manager from a Casper, Wyo., store arrived at the home of Brian Byrd, 26, and his wife Chrystal, 24, to repossess a Dell computer. The rent-to-own payment hadn’t been made, the manager thought. The manager showed Brian Byrd a photograph of him using the computer in his home from a webcam right before he gave the manager a receipt.
The lawsuit has a comment from the manager. He said he was “not supposed to disclose that Aaron’s had the photograph.”
Spyware on the computer
The suit further asserts that the rented computer was loaded with spyware designed to track keystrokes, make screenshots and take webcam images.
“It feels like we were pretty much invaded, like somebody else was in our house,” claims Byrd. “Crystal gets online before she gets a shower and checks her grades. Who knows? They could print that stuff off there and take it home.”
‘Kill switch’ is a common practice
Petere Swire is an Ohio state professor that explains the “kill switch” is a legal thing to do. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act will allow it to protect the industry. A kill switch is a security measure used to shut off a machine remotely in an emergency situation. Swire continues. “But this action sounds like it’s stretching the self-defense exception pretty far,” he said.
Suit talks about spyware designer
Designerware LLC is located in PA and was where the spyware used was manufactured. Designerware has also been named in the lawsuit. Aaron’s was not a customer according to technical support Chief Tim Kelly.
Aaron’s corporation denies knowledge
There are over 1,140 company-owned Aaron’s stores and several franchised as well as the company is a nationwide corporation. The business says that the Byrds rented their computer from one of the independent franchisees and that none of the business stores use Designerware products.
Cyber surveillance raises ethics problems
More people have noticed cyber surveillance taking place. It is a much more common practice now. There are typically video cameras and some computer tracking in offices. Modern offices almost always have them. Cameras are also used routinely on highways and in public places. Most cellphones are equipped with Global Positioning System components that could be used to monitor every step we take. Many question the ethics of these practices.
“We’re already concerned that Americans are tracked, followed and spied on as never before,” said Jay Stanley of the ACLU.
Lawmakers concerned
The Don’t Track Me Online Act, comparable to the national do-not-call list, was introduced earlier this year by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. The proposed legislation would stop businesses from trading stored user information if the user chooses.
Citations
Bloomberg
bit.ly/jimOOk
News Tribune
newstribune.com/news/2011/may/04/suit-against-pc-renter-aarons-raises-privacy-quest/
PC Pitstop
techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2011/05/24/i-can-see-you-in-your-home/
