Ebay Settles for $56M Over Harassment of E-commerce Bloggers

WHO:

TechCrunch - eBay, several former executives, Ina Steiner, David Steiner

CBS News - Devin Wenig (former CEO), Steve Wymer (former chief communications officer), Christopher Murphy (attorney for the Steiners)

WHAT:

TechCrunch - eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay nearly $56 million in a settlement with the Steiners, resolving a civil case involving the harassment they faced in 2019.

CBS News - The settlement amount is confirmed to be $55.7 million, with the Steiners receiving $48.7 million, including $2 million from Wenig.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

ABC News - David and Ina Steiner filed a lawsuit alleging they were the victims of a "systematic campaign to emotionally and psychologically torture" the pair "in order to stifle their reporting on eBay."

CBS News - eBay has agreed to pay $55.7 million in a settlement with the Steiners, which includes $48.7 million in compensation and $7 million in charitable donations.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

AP News - The Steiners will receive $48.7 million in compensation, which includes $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer.

AP News - The settlement resolves more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign.

AP News - The Steiners reported being subjected to cyberstalking, death threats, and in-person surveillance by former eBay workers.

AP News - The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.

AP News - Ina Steiner stated, "David and I were on the same page that this settlement should and must be made public — as victims who want to prevent something like this from ever happening to anyone else, and as reporters who believe in transparency."

AP News - eBay paid a $3 million criminal penalty in the case in 2024.

AP News - The Steiners' lawsuit claimed that the company engaged in a conspiracy to “intimidate, threaten to kill, torture, terrorize, stalk and silence them” to “stifle their reporting on eBay.”

AP News - The harassment campaign included sending a book on surviving the death of a spouse to the Steiners.

AP News - eBay will give $6 million to various charities as part of the settlement.

AP News - Wenig will also donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

TechCrunch - eBay has agreed to pay $56 million in a settlement with the Steiners, resolving a civil case involving the harassment they faced in 2019.

CBS News - The Steiners will receive $48.7 million in the settlement, which includes $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

AP News - The Steiners reached a new settlement this month after asking a federal judge in June to restore the case to the trial calendar.

AP News - The settlement resolves more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign.

AP News - The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

AP News - eBay paid a $3 million criminal penalty in the case in 2024.

CBS News - The Steiners stated that they hope the case will serve as a deterrent against similar corporate misconduct.

AP News - The settlement resolves more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign.

AP News - The Steiners reported being subjected to cyberstalking, death threats, and in-person surveillance by former eBay workers.

CBS News - The harassment campaign included sending a book on surviving the death of a spouse to the Steiners.

CBS News - eBay will give $6 million to various charities as part of the settlement.

CBS News - Wenig will also donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

TechCrunch - eBay has agreed to pay $55.7 million in a settlement with the Steiners, which includes $48.7 million in compensation and $7 million in charitable donations.

CBS News - The Steiners will receive $46.15 million from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, $500,000 from former executive Wendy Jones, and $50,000 from former executive Steve Wymer.

AP News - The settlement includes a commitment for $7 million to go to nonprofit organizations, including those supporting First Amendment rights.

TechCrunch - eBay has agreed to pay $56 million in a settlement with the Steiners, resolving a civil case involving the harassment they faced in 2019.

CBS News - The settlement amount is confirmed to be $55.7 million, with the Steiners receiving $48.7 million, including $2 million from Devin Wenig.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

CBS News - eBay will donate $6 million to various charities as part of the settlement.

CBS News - Wenig will also donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

AP News - The Steiners reached a new settlement this month after asking a federal judge in June to restore the case to the trial calendar.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

AP News - The Steiners reported being subjected to cyberstalking, death threats, and in-person surveillance by former eBay workers.

AP News - The settlement resolves more than six years of criminal and civil proceedings stemming from the harassment campaign.

AP News - The settlement includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations, including to organizations supporting First Amendment rights.

CBS News - The Steiners stated that they hope the case will serve as a deterrent against similar corporate misconduct.

CBS News - The Steiners received a total of $48.7 million in the settlement, which includes $2 million from Devin Wenig.

CBS News - eBay will donate $6 million to various charities as part of the settlement.

CBS News - Wenig will also donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

CBS News - The harassment campaign included sending a book on surviving the death of a spouse to the Steiners.

CBS News - eBay will give $6 million to various charities as part of the settlement.

CBS News - Wenig will also donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

CBS News - The Steiners will receive $48.7 million in the settlement, including $2 million from Wenig.

TechCrunch - eBay and several former executives have agreed to pay nearly $56 million in a settlement.

CBS News - The settlement amount is $55.7 million, with the Steiners receiving $48.7 million, including $2 million from Wenig.

CBS News - eBay will donate $6 million to various charities, and Wenig will donate $1 million to a charity protecting First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name.

CBS News - The harassment campaign included sending a bloody pig mask, live spiders, and pornographic magazines to the Steiners' neighbors.

WHERE:

CBS News - The Steiners reside in Natick, Massachusetts.

WHEN:

Techmeme - The civil case was resolved in 2021.

CBS News - The harassment campaign occurred in 2019.

CBS News - eBay paid a $3 million criminal penalty in the case in 2024.

WHY:

CBS News - Leaders at eBay were enraged by the couple's newsletter and critical comments from readers who posted on their website, with Wenig texting "Take her down" and Wymer stating, "I want to see ashes. As long as it takes. Whatever it takes."

CBS News - The harassment was motivated by the Steiners' critical comments about eBay in their newsletter and online posts.

CBS News - Leaders at eBay were enraged by the couple's newsletter.

HOW:

CNN - Seven former eBay workers pleaded guilty and received sentences of as high as 57 months in prison for participating in the scheme, which also involved several of them traveling from California to Natick, Massachusetts, to surveil the Steiners and try to install a GPS tracking device on their car.

AP News - The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.

CBS News - eBay stated that it has since changed leadership and strengthened its policies, procedures, and ethics training in response to the incident.

AP News - The company acknowledged “the unprofessional tone in internal communications” by former CEO Devin Wenig, former Chief Communications Officer Steve Wymer, and former Senior Vice President Wendy Jones.

AP News - The settlement contains no confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.

CBS News - Some eBay executives went to prison for their role in the cyberstalking scheme, and the Department of Justice charged seven eBay executives and employees with cyberstalking in 2020.

CBS News - Some eBay executives went to prison for their role in the cyberstalking scheme.

CBS News - Law enforcement traced a rental van that followed David Steiner back to an eBay employee.

CBS News - Seven eBay executives and employees were charged with cyberstalking in 2020.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 13:30 UTC)

eBay and several former executives have reached a settlement of nearly $56 million with David and Ina Steiner, resolving a civil case related to harassment the couple faced in 2019. The settlement includes $55.7 million, with the Steiners receiving $48.7 million, and an additional $7 million earmarked for charitable donations, including support for First Amendment rights. Seven former eBay employees pleaded guilty to their involvement in a scheme that included traveling to surveil the Steiners and attempting to install a GPS tracking device on their car, with sentences reaching as high as 57 months in prison.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 12:36 UTC)

eBay has reached a settlement of $55.7 million with the Steiners, which includes $48.7 million in compensation and $7 million in charitable donations to organizations supporting First Amendment rights. The compensation will be distributed among various parties, with $46.15 million coming from eBay, $2 million from former CEO Wenig, and additional amounts from former executives Wendy Jones and Steve Wymer. Ina Steiner expressed the importance of making the settlement public, stating that it aims to prevent similar harassment from happening to anyone else and emphasizes the need for transparency in such cases.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 07:53 UTC)

eBay has agreed to pay $56 million in a settlement with the Steiners, resolving a civil case related to the harassment they faced in 2019. The Steiners will receive $48.7 million from this settlement, which includes contributions from eBay and several former executives, along with an additional $7 million earmarked for charitable donations supporting First Amendment rights. Ina Steiner emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that they wanted the settlement to be public to help prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 06:49 UTC)

In a significant settlement, the Steiners will receive $48.7 million, which includes $46.15 million from eBay and additional contributions from former executives, along with $7 million earmarked for charitable donations supporting First Amendment rights. This resolution comes after more than six years of legal battles related to a harassment campaign that involved cyberstalking and threats against the Steiners, who hope their case will deter similar corporate misconduct in the future. As part of the settlement, eBay will also contribute $6 million to various charities, and former CEO Wenig will donate $1 million to a charity in Ina Steiner's name.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 05:51 UTC)

eBay has reached a settlement agreement totaling $55.7 million with the Steiners, which includes $48.7 million in compensation and $7 million earmarked for charitable donations. The Steiners will receive $46.15 million from eBay, along with additional payments from former CEO Wenig, former executive Wendy Jones, and former executive Steve Wymer. Notably, the settlement does not include a confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to speak publicly about the case.

(UPDATED July 29, 2026 00:15 UTC)

eBay has reached a settlement of $56 million with the Steiners, resolving a civil case related to harassment they experienced in 2019. The Steiners will receive $48.7 million, which includes $2 million from Devin Wenig, while eBay will also contribute an additional $7 million to charitable organizations, including $6 million to various charities and $1 million in Wenig's name to support First Amendment rights. In light of the incident, eBay has stated that it has changed leadership and enhanced its policies, procedures, and ethics training.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 23:19 UTC)

The Steiners have reached a new settlement after requesting a federal judge to restore their case to the trial calendar, which includes an additional $7 million in charitable donations to organizations that support First Amendment rights. Ina Steiner emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that both she and David wanted the settlement to be public to help prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. This settlement resolves over six years of legal battles stemming from a harassment campaign, during which the Steiners reported being subjected to cyberstalking, death threats, and surveillance by former eBay employees.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 22:23 UTC)

In a significant legal settlement, the Steiners will receive a total of $48.7 million in compensation, which includes $46.15 million from eBay and additional amounts from former executives. Alongside this financial compensation, the settlement includes an extra $7 million in charitable donations to organizations that support First Amendment rights, and the Steiners expressed hope that their case will deter similar corporate misconduct in the future. Notably, the settlement does not include a confidentiality provision, allowing the Steiners to discuss the case publicly.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 21:21 UTC)

In a significant settlement, the Steiners have received a total of $48.7 million, which includes $2 million from Devin Wenig, while eBay will contribute $6 million to various charities as part of the agreement. Additionally, Wenig will donate $1 million to a charity that protects First Amendment rights in Ina Steiner's name, following a harassment campaign that included sending the couple a book on surviving the death of a spouse. This case stems from a cyberstalking scheme that led to the imprisonment of some eBay executives, with seven individuals charged by the Department of Justice in 2020 for their involvement.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 20:23 UTC)

eBay has agreed to a settlement that includes a $6 million donation to various charities, with former CEO Devin Wenig contributing an additional $1 million to a charity focused on First Amendment rights in honor of Ina Steiner. The Steiners will receive a total of $48.7 million from the settlement, which includes $2 million from Wenig himself. This settlement comes after some eBay executives were sentenced to prison for their involvement in a cyberstalking scheme.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 19:28 UTC)

eBay and several former executives have reached a settlement totaling nearly $56 million related to a harassment campaign against Ina and David Steiner, who reside in Natick, Massachusetts. The Steiners will receive $48.7 million from the settlement, which includes a $2 million contribution from former CEO Devin Wenig, while eBay will also donate $6 million to various charities and Wenig will give $1 million to a charity supporting First Amendment rights in Ina's name. The harassment, which involved disturbing items sent to the Steiners' neighbors, stemmed from the couple's critical remarks about eBay in their newsletter and online posts, leading to charges against seven eBay employees for cyberstalking in 2020.