In a high-profile settlement, the American e-commerce giant is ordered to pay a three million dollar fine after a federal investigation concluded the company preyed on journalists who were critical of its practices. The report came from NBC News and has sparked renewed scrutiny of corporate conduct in digital media spaces.
Six charges were brought against eBay, including allegations of surveillance and cyberstalking. Rather than pursuing a criminal case, the government accepted a maximum penalty under a negotiated settlement. An independent corporate monitor will oversee eBay for the next three years to ensure compliance and deter future misconduct.
The settlement documents reveal that between August 5 and August 23, 2019, several eBay insiders, led by the former senior director of safety and security, James Baugh, and the former director of global sustainability, David Harvill, participated in actions aimed at publishers of EcommerceBytes, Ina Steiner and David Steiner. The Steins were frequent critics of eBay and its platform, and the settlement acknowledges the pattern of harassment directed at them.
Investigators described a campaign to intimidate the Steiners that included sending packages containing live insects and dispatching anonymous threat-filled postcards. In addition, eBay personnel allegedly installed a GPS tracking device on the couple’s vehicle, a move that raised serious concerns about personal safety and corporate overreach.
All former eBay employees involved in the Steiner matter faced conviction, with sentences ranging from 12 to 57 months. Several individuals were placed under house arrest as part of the penalties, underscoring the severity of the actions alleged by prosecutors and the court.
Separately, a bill introduced in the State Duma proposed restrictions on fines related to social media activity, seeking to limit penalties for users based on their online expressions such as likes. This development reflects a broader global discourse on online behavior, accountability, and the balancing of free expression with regulatory oversight. [NBC News]