American company eBay has been ordered to pay a $3 million fine for persecuting journalists who criticized the company. This was reported by NBC News.
Six charges were filed against eBay, including surveillance and cyberstalking. They did not file a criminal case because the company agreed to pay the maximum penalty. Additionally, eBay will be monitored by an independent corporate monitor for the next three years.
As part of its settlement with the federal government, eBay admitted that between August 5 and August 23, 2019, the company’s former senior director of safety and security James Baugh, former director of global sustainability David Harvill, and several other employees harassed EcommerceBytes publishers Ina. and David Steiner. The couple wrote frequently about eBay, including criticizing the site.
As part of a campaign to intimidate journalists, packages containing live insects were placed on the Steiners and anonymous postcards containing threats were sent. eBay employees also installed a GPS tracking device on the couple’s car for tracking.
All former eBay employees involved in the Steiner story were convicted. Sentences ranged from 12 to 57 months. Some people were placed under house arrest.
Formerly in the State Duma contributed A bill that prohibits citizens from being fined for their likes on social networks.