eBay Inc. agreed to pay nearly $50 million to Massachusetts journalists David and Ina Steiner, resolving litigation over a 2019 harassment campaign carried out by former company employees, according to The Associated Press.
The Steiners, founders of EcommerceBytes, said they received threats and disturbing anonymous deliveries, including live insects, a funeral wreath and a bloody pig mask. They also alleged cyberstalking, death threats and surveillance after their newsletter reported on the e-commerce industry.
The parties reached a tentative settlement in February, but the agreement was not finalized before trial. The Steiners asked a federal judge in June to reopen the case; a new settlement announced July 28 resolves the litigation.
In addition to the payment, the agreement includes $7 million in charitable donations, including contributions to organizations supporting First Amendment rights. It contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.
The settlement also requires eBay to issue a public statement about the conduct of former executives involved in the case. The company repeated its apology and said the behavior was reprehensible and not representative of eBay’s culture. Federal prosecutors charged seven former eBay employees in 2020; the criminal and civil proceedings continued for more than six years.
Source: The Associated Press, July 28, 2026.
