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A Massachusetts couple targeted by a bizarre harassment campaign orchestrated by former eBay employees has reached a settlement in their federal lawsuit against the e-commerce giant.
David and Ina Steiner, residents of Natick, Massachusetts who publish the online newsletter EcommerceBytes, had filed suit in 2021 alleging that eBay workers engaged in a systematic conspiracy to “intimidate, threaten to kill, torture, terrorize, stalk and silence them” in retaliation for their reporting on the company.
The settlement, announced Wednesday in Boston federal court, brings an end to a disturbing case that made headlines throughout the tech and e-commerce sectors. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. U.S. District Judge Patti Saris dismissed the case while allowing either party to reopen it within 60 days if the agreement is not finalized.
When contacted about the settlement, an eBay spokesperson referred to the court order and declined further comment. When the lawsuit was initially filed, the company had acknowledged the “misconduct of these former employees was wrong” and pledged to “do what is fair and appropriate” to address the Steiners’ experience.
The harassment campaign against the couple was extraordinary in its scope and malice. Federal prosecutors detailed how seven former eBay employees targeted the Steiners with a coordinated terror campaign that included anonymous deliveries of live insects, including cockroaches and spiders, to their home. The perpetrators also sent a funeral wreath, a bloody pig Halloween mask, and pornographic magazines with the husband’s name to a neighbor’s residence.
Beyond the disturbing deliveries, the harassment included cyberstalking, death threats, and in-person surveillance. The former employees had even planned to break into the couple’s garage to install a GPS tracking device on their car.
The case drew significant attention to corporate culture issues and executive behavior in the tech industry. According to prosecutors, the harassment began after eBay leadership became upset with coverage in the Steiners’ newsletter, which focuses on the e-commerce industry and frequently reported on eBay’s business practices.
Most of the former employees charged in the case pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy and cyberstalking. They later received sentences ranging from prison terms to home confinement. The criminal cases revealed a troubling pattern of retaliatory behavior directed from within the company.
Earlier this year, eBay agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with federal authorities. The agreement acknowledged the serious nature of the misconduct while allowing the company to avoid a criminal trial.
The Steiners’ case highlighted concerns about corporate accountability and the protection of independent journalism covering powerful tech companies. Their newsletter, EcommerceBytes, continues to provide analysis and reporting on the e-commerce industry.
This settlement marks the latest development in a saga that exposed how a campaign of intimidation targeting journalists could emerge from within one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. While the financial terms remain confidential, the resolution provides some closure to a case that raised alarming questions about corporate ethics and the lengths to which some employees would go to silence critics.
The impact of this case continues to reverberate throughout the tech industry, serving as a cautionary tale about the consequences when corporate disagreements with media coverage escalate into criminal conduct. For eBay, the settlement represents an opportunity to move past a dark chapter in its corporate history.
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14 Comments
This is a cautionary tale for all companies, especially tech giants, about the dangers of retaliating against critical reporting or whistleblowing. Even if the harassment was orchestrated by rogue employees, eBay is still ultimately responsible for the actions of its workforce. They need to take this seriously and implement stronger safeguards to prevent such abuses in the future.
Absolutely. eBay needs to demonstrate that it has zero tolerance for this kind of behavior and that it will hold all employees accountable, no matter their position or tenure. Transparency and accountability should be the top priorities in the wake of this settlement.
While I’m glad the Steiners were able to reach a settlement, the lack of transparency around the terms is concerning. I hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the e-commerce industry as a whole to take the protection of whistleblowers and journalists more seriously. No one should have to endure such a disturbing campaign of harassment for simply doing their job.
I agree, the opaqueness around the settlement is disappointing. Hopefully eBay will still be held accountable in some way, even if the full details aren’t made public. This kind of case sets a dangerous precedent, and the industry needs to take steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
I’m curious to know more about the specific tactics used in this harassment campaign. Were the former eBay employees acting on their own, or was there a broader directive from the company? It’s important to get to the bottom of these kinds of issues to prevent them from happening again.
You raise a good point. The details around the former employees’ motives and the extent of eBay’s involvement will be key to understanding the full scope of this case. Hopefully the settlement process sheds more light on these questions.
As someone who follows the e-commerce industry closely, this case is truly alarming. The fact that eBay employees would go to such extreme lengths to intimidate and silence critical reporting is a massive breach of trust. While I’m glad the Steiners were able to reach a settlement, I hope this leads to a thorough investigation and overhaul of eBay’s internal practices and culture.
Agreed. This case highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight and accountability measures in the tech sector. Companies like eBay need to be held to the highest standards when it comes to protecting whistleblowers and journalists. Anything less is a threat to transparency and a free press.
Wow, this is a really bizarre and disturbing case. I’m glad the Steiners were able to reach a settlement with eBay, but it’s concerning to hear about this kind of harassment campaign orchestrated by former employees. It just goes to show the lengths some companies will go to silence critical reporting.
I agree, the details of this case are truly shocking. It’s good that eBay acknowledged the wrongdoing and has pledged to address the Steiners’ experience, but the lack of transparency around the settlement terms is a bit worrying.
This is a troubling situation that speaks to the broader issues of corporate power and the erosion of press freedoms. While eBay may have reached a settlement, the fact that its employees were able to orchestrate such a coordinated campaign of harassment against critical reporting is deeply concerning. I hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the industry to take these threats to journalists and whistleblowers much more seriously.
I agree completely. The details of this case are chilling and it’s a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by those who dare to hold large corporations accountable. eBay needs to demonstrate a real commitment to reform and transparency in order to regain the public’s trust.
This is a deeply troubling case that highlights the darker side of the tech industry. While eBay may have reached a settlement, the fact that its employees were able to orchestrate such a coordinated campaign of harassment is incredibly concerning. It makes me wonder what other abuses may be happening behind the scenes at major companies.
You raise an important point. If this kind of behavior was allowed to occur at eBay, it’s reasonable to question what other unethical practices may be taking place at other tech firms. This should serve as a wake-up call for the entire industry to reevaluate their corporate cultures and strengthen whistleblower protections.