EBay Pays $3m Fine In Blogger Harassment Case

eBay has agreed to pay a $3 million (£2.36 million) fine to settle harassment claims against bloggers critical of the firm.

Court documents show that executives sent real spiders and cockroaches to Ina and David Steiner.

Prosecutors say the pair were targeted because they created a newsletter that the employees despise.

According to the documents, the pair was “emotionally, psychologically, and physically” terrorized.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Jim Baugh, eBay’s former senior director of safety and security, targeted the couple for creating EcommerceBytes, a newsletter the company’s officials did not approve of.

According to court documents, Baugh and six friends organized an intimidation campaign against the Steelers.

EBay Pays $3m Fine In Blogger Harassment Case

Intimidation tactics included mailing live insects, a fetal pig, and a funeral wreath to the Steiners’ house in Natick, Massachusetts.

According to the documents, Baugh and his friends also implanted a GPS tracking device in the couple’s car and posted ads on Craigslist inviting sexual encounters at their house.

eBay fired the employees involved shortly after the incident.

In 2021, employee Philip Cooke was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The following year, Baugh received a roughly five-year sentence.

Baugh’s lawyers said former CEO Devin Wenig pressured him to rein in the Steiners’ coverage of the company.

Mr Wenig, who resigned in 2019, has not been charged and denies knowledge of the harassment campaign.

EBay Pays $3m Fine In Blogger Harassment Case

“Ebay engaged in absolutely horrific, criminal conduct,” acting Massachusetts US Attorney Josh Levy told the Associated Press via email.

“The company’s employees and contractors involved in this campaign put the victims through pure hell, in a petrifying campaign aimed at silencing their reporting and protecting the eBay brand.”

eBay is a popular online marketplace where you can buy and sell a wide variety of items, from clothing and electronics to collectibles and antiques. With millions of active users, they provides a platform for individuals and businesses to connect and conduct transactions.

EBay Pays $3m Fine In Blogger Harassment Case

You can find both new and used items at competitive prices, and the bidding system allows for potentially getting great deals on sought-after items. Whether you’re looking to declutter your home or find unique treasures, they offers a convenient and diverse shopping experience.

SOURCE – BBC