eBay and Former Execs Pay $55.7 Million to Settle Cyberstalking Case

eBay and three former executives have agreed to pay $55.7 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by Ina and David Steiner, the Massachusetts couple behind the e-commerce newsletter EcommerceBytes. The couple was subjected to a campaign of cyberstalking and harassment in 2019 after publishing critical articles about the company.

The total settlement amount, including charitable contributions, is approximately $55.7 million according to court filings. The settlement includes $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Devin Wenig, $500,000 from former communications chief Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former senior executive Steve Wymer. eBay will also contribute $6 million to nonprofit organizations, and Wenig will donate $1 million in Ina Steiner's name to a charity supporting First Amendment rights.

The Harassment Campaign

The campaign against the Steiners began in August 2019 after Ina Steiner published articles critical of eBay's business practices. According to evidence presented in the criminal case, former CEO Devin Wenig told his communications chief to "take her down." The communications chief then instructed the company's security team to do "whatever it takes" to silence the couple. Seven eBay security employees pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy, stalking, and witness tampering.

• eBay employees sent live cockroaches, a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, and a book titled "The Loss of a Spouse" to the Steiners' home.
• The campaign included online threats, surveillance attempts, and efforts to intimidate the couple into stopping their reporting.
• Ina Steiner, the primary target, had written articles about eBay's business practices that angered top executives.
• The criminal case against the seven employees was resolved in 2020, but the executives who allegedly instigated the campaign faced no charges at that time.
• The civil settlement closes the Steiners' lawsuit, which sought accountability and damages for the emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

Corporate Accountability and Next Steps

In a statement, eBay said the 2019 conduct was "wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened." The company noted that new leaders have since joined and that it has strengthened policies, procedures, controls, and training. "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."

The settlement resolves the civil case, but the criminal convictions of the seven former employees stand. The case has drawn attention to the risks journalists face when reporting on powerful corporations and the importance of legal protections for press freedom. The Steiners have said they hope the settlement sends a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.