Security News > 2024 > January > eBay to cough up $3M after cyber-stalking couple who dared criticize the souk

Under the agreement [PDF], eBay admits responsibility for the actions of six of its former employees, and a contractor, all of whom previously pleaded guilty to physically and electronically harassing Ina and David Steiner.

Ina and David Steiner in 1999 co-founded EcommerceBytes, a website and newsletter that reports on and scrutinizes ecommerce companies, including eBay.

The US Justice Department subsequently charged eBay with two counts of stalking through interstate travel, two counts of stalking through electronic communications services, one count of witness tampering, and one count of obstruction of justice.

The Steiners are privately suing eBay for damages, a lawsuit that is ongoing still.

"From the moment eBay first learned of the 2019 events, eBay cooperated fully and extensively with law enforcement authorities. We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners for what they endured."

Beginning in August 2019, Jim Baugh, eBay's now-former senior director of safety and security, and six colleagues - David Harville, Philip Cooke, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Veronica Zea, and Stephanie Stockwell - targeted the Steiners for their eBay coverage.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/01/11/ebay_3m_penalty_stalking/