eBay settles cyberstalking case for $56 million
E-commerce company eBay and three former executives will pay nearly $56 million to settle a cyberstalking lawsuit. The case involved a bizarre harassment campaign launched against a Massachusetts couple in 2019.
E-commerce giant eBay and three former executives have agreed to a settlement totaling $55.7 million to resolve a long-running lawsuit. The case stemmed from a bizarre harassment and cyberstalking campaign that targeted David and Ina Steiner, a Massachusetts couple, in 2019.
The Steiners, who operate the EcommerceBytes newsletter, sued eBay and former executives, including ex-CEO Devin Wenig, in 2021. Their lawsuit accused the company and its leaders of orchestrating the campaign to intimidate them because of their newsletter's critical coverage of eBay. The harassment allegedly included sending live insects, a bloody pig mask, and a funeral wreath to the couple's home.
The settlement concludes a lengthy legal battle that brought to light accusations of corporate misconduct and the misuse of company resources to target journalists. The case drew significant attention to the pressures faced by independent media outlets that cover large corporations.
While eBay has not publicly detailed the specifics of the settlement, the substantial financial payout signals an effort to put the matter behind the company. The resolution aims to avoid further litigation and the negative publicity associated with the cyberstalking allegations.