eBay and former execs settle cyberstalking case brought by journalist couple

eBay has settled a lawsuit with a pair of journalists who sued the company after its employees subjected them to a campaign of cyberstalking and harassment. Massachusetts-based David and Ina Steiner run a newsletter and website called EcommerceBytes. In 2019, articles about eBay written by Ina Steiner apparently drew the ire of then-CEO Devin Wenig. According to evidence from prosecutors, Wenig told his communications chief to "take her down," while the comms exec told eBay's former security team lead to do "whatever it takes" to silence her. Security employees of the company then engaged in a campaign of harassment and cyberstalking aimed at silencing the pair.

eBay workers threatened both Steiners online and with material sent to their home. The threats included live cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, and a book on surviving the loss of a spouse. Seven eBay security employees were charged and pleaded guilty in a case brought in 2020, but the executives who allegedly instigated the campaign did not face punishment at that time.

Today's settlement will see the Steiners receive compensation of $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from Wenig, $500,000 from former eBay executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former eBay executive Steve Wymer. Additionally, eBay will commit $6 million in charitable contributions to various nonprofit organizations, and Wenig will give $1 million in Ina Steiner's name to a charity that supports First Amendment rights.

"This case was always about more than obtaining financial recovery," said Christopher Murphy of Scalli Murphy Law, which represented the Steiners. "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."

"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," eBay said in its statement today. "The 2019 conduct is not representative of eBay's culture or thousands of employees around the world today. Since these events occurred, new leaders have joined the company, and eBay has strengthened its policies, procedures, controls, and training consistent with the company's ongoing commitment to uphold high standards of conduct and ethics."