Rent-to-Own Company Beats Screenshot Spyware Class Action

SEI/Aaron’s Inc.'s use of spyware to capture screenshots and log keystrokes on rent-to-own computers didn’t violate federal privacy law because the shots weren’t triggered by user communications, a federal trial court has ruled (Krise v. SEI/Aaron’s, Inc., 2017 BL 293997, N.D. Ga., No. 1:14-CV-1209-TWT, filed 8/22/17).

Under the court’s reasoning, companies may monitor computer-user activity as long as the methods employed aren’t activated by a user communication, such as sending an email or engaging in an online video chat.

In granting Aaron’s motion for summary judgment that ended the case, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District ...