eBay's bizarre cyberstalking saga ends with a $56 million settlement

Core Impact Points

• The cyberstalking campaign involved sending live insects, a bloody pig mask, and a funeral wreath to the couple, who operate the EcommerceBytes newsletter.
• The Department of Justice charged seven former eBay employees in connection with the harassment campaign in 2020, all of whom have been convicted.
• eBay agreed to pay a $3 million criminal penalty related to the case in 2024.
• The $55.7 million settlement will also include donations from eBay to nonprofit organizations, totaling $6 million.
• The lawsuit accused eBay and its executives of launching a coordinated effort to intimidate and silence the Steiners in an attempt to stifle their eBay-related reporting.
• The settlement marks a significant conclusion to a lengthy legal saga that has implications for the tech industry's approach to harassment and cyberstalking.