eBay pays $46M to journalists it targeted in bizarre harassment campaign
Summary
eBay and three former executives agreed to pay nearly $56 million to settle a lawsuit over a harassment campaign against two journalists in 2019. The case involved threats such as sending cockroaches, a funeral wreath, and a pig mask, as well as attempts to track the victims’ car, which led to criminal charges and prison sentences for some former employees.Key Facts
- eBay and three former executives will pay a total of about $56 million to Ina and David Steiner, who run the news website EcommerceBytes.
- The harassment in 2019 included sending live cockroaches, a funeral wreath, a book about losing a spouse, and a bloody pig mask to the victims’ home.
- Harassing emails, Twitter messages, and an attempt to attach a GPS tracker to the Steiners’ car were part of the campaign.
- Seven former eBay employees and contractors pleaded guilty and received prison or home confinement sentences.
- Former eBay CEO Devin Wenig, Senior VP Wendy Jones, and Communications Officer Steve Wymer paid money as part of the civil settlement but were not charged criminally.
- eBay stated the conduct was wrong and that it has improved its policies and ethics since 2019.
- The settlement requires eBay to publicly acknowledge the wrongdoing by the former executives.
- The victims had filed their lawsuit in 2021 to address the harassment and stop the abusive campaign.
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