eBay Settles Terror Campaign Against Bloggers for $56M

eBay and its former executives agreed this week to pay $56 million to Massachusetts publishers Ina and David Steiner, resolving a landmark civil lawsuit over a horrific 2019 corporate cyberstalking campaign targeting the couple.

Inside eBay’s Bizarre Campaign Against EcommerceBytes

Ina and David Steiner, a married couple who co-author the e-commerce newsletter EcommerceBytes, became the targets of high-level eBay executives after publishing articles that criticized the company. In 2019, top leadership concocted a retaliatory plot designed to intimidate the journalists into silencing their coverage.

The harassment escalated quickly. Executives utilized anonymous social media accounts to badger the couple online, while simultaneously orchestrating a disturbing physical mail campaign. The Steiners received anonymous, threatening deliveries at their home, including live spiders, cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, pornographic magazines, a funeral wreath, and a book detailing how to survive the death of a spouse.

Unexecuted Plots and Physical Surveillance

According to released court documents, the corporate intimidation scheme went beyond digital and mail-based threats. eBay employees planned to physically track the couple by affixing a GPS tracking device to their vehicle, though this was never successfully executed. Internal communications also revealed discussions about sending a “Samoan gang” to the couple’s residence to further terrorize them.

Breaking Down the $56 Million Settlement

The newly announced agreement concludes a civil lawsuit filed by the Steiners in 2021. According to the law firm representing the couple, the settlement includes $46.15 million paid directly by eBay.

Individual former executives are also personally liable for substantial portions of the payout. Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig will pay $2 million, while former executive Wendy Jones is responsible for $500,000. Additionally, former executive Steve Wymer will pay $50,000. The remaining balance of the settlement will be distributed to various non-profit organizations.

Criminal Convictions and Corporate Fallout

The civil settlement follows extensive criminal proceedings. In 2022, seven former eBay employees were criminally charged and pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. Among those convicted was James Baugh, eBay’s former head of safety and security, who received a prison sentence of nearly five years. The U.S. Department of Justice also secured guilty pleas from David Harville, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Stephanie Stockwell, Philip Cooke, and former contractor Veronica Zea.

In a statement, eBay condemned the actions of its former staff, characterizing the behavior as entirely inconsistent with the company’s values.

“As we have long stated, what the Steiners were subjected to by former eBay employees in 2019 was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened,” the company stated. “We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the employees who perpetrated and pled guilty to criminal charges for the misconduct against Ina and David Steiner. We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners. This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right.”

The Steiners’ legal team emphasized that the litigation was driven by a desire for accountability rather than financial gain. said Christopher Murphy, one of the attorneys representing the couple, “From the beginning, our clients wanted to uncover the truth, protect journalists and publishers, hold those responsible accountable, deter future corporate misconduct, and help ensure others would never have to endure what they experienced.”