eBay to pay $56 million for targeted cyberstalking campaign
A living nightmare of live insects, funeral wreaths, and a bloody pig mask has finally reached a financial conclusion. eBay and three of its former executives will pay $55.7 million to settle a lawsuit brought by David and Ina Steiner, the couple subjected to a coordinated 2019 harassment campaign.
The Steiners, who operate the EcommerceBytes newsletter, filed their lawsuit in 2021 after enduring a systematic effort to stifle their reporting. The legal action accused the company of orchestrating a campaign to terrorize and silence them. This settlement follows a series of criminal convictions; the Department of Justice charged seven former eBay employees in 2020, all of whom were found guilty. eBay previously paid a $3 million criminal penalty in 2024 related to the same events.
In a public statement, eBay condemned the actions of the individuals involved, calling the treatment of the Steiners reprehensible. The total settlement figure includes $46.15 million directly from the company, with additional contributions from former CEO Devin Wenig, former global operations SVP Wendy Jones, and former chief communications officer Steve Wymer. Beyond the direct payments to the couple, the company will donate $6 million to various nonprofit organizations.
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