eBay Pays $50M After Years of Harassment | Providence News

eBay is paying nearly $50 million to settle a six-year harassment lawsuit against Massachusetts couple David and Ina Steiner, founders of EcommerceBytes, after former employees launched a terrifying campaign—including live insects, a funeral wreath, and a bloody pig mask—to silence their e-commerce journalism. The case, involving criminal and civil proceedings, underscores a broader message: big corporations can’t crush free speech without facing consequences. Alongside the cash settlement, eBay is donating $7 million to First Amendment causes, and former executives are contributing personally. The company also apologized for the 2019 misconduct, noting its culture has since changed, while seven former employees faced federal charges and eBay paid a $3 million criminal penalty. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1a1371c4f9688815