Could a leasing company use your laptop to spy on you?
People who advocate for privacy in the digital age spend a lot of conjuring up hypothetical situations to illustrate how technology could be misused to violate basic human rights. They won't have to tax their imagination so much anymore. A new lawsuit suggests consumers who rent computers may be suffering the most dramatic kind of privacy violation.
Crystal and Brian Byrd, of Casper, Wyo, told TODAY's Janet Shamlian on Thursday that a company that sold them a rent-to-own computer spied on them, using the laptop's Webcam to take pictures of them in their home. The spying came to light when someone who worked at the firm came to their house and tried to repossess the machine.
The couple is now suing Aaron's, a nationwide chain that rents furniture and other equipment, and the franchisee that rented the machine to them, Aspen Way Enterprises. A note on the Aaron’s Web site says, "We’re taking this allegation very seriously. We are conducting a thorough investigation and diligently reaching out to our customers to address any of their concerns."
