An Atlanta-based retailer has officially settled Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges related to monitoring software installed in rental computers.
On Tuesday, the FTC approved the final order settling charges that Aaron's, a rent-to-own chain, played an integral role in its franchisees' installation and use of technology that “secretly monitored consumers, including taking webcam pictures of them in their homes,” an FTC release said.
Under the terms of the agreement, the chain is banned from using the software to collect consumers' information via rental computers. It is also prohibited from “receiving, storing or communicating such information,” except upon a consumer's request for technical support.
The final order was approved after the FTC's standard public comment period.
