eBay’s Bizarre Scandal: Executives Sent Spiders & a Bloody Mask to Silence Critics episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 11, 2026 · 4 MIN

eBay’s Bizarre Scandal: Executives Sent Spiders & a Bloody Mask to Silence Critics

from Rethinking Tech · host Rethinking Tech

RT UpdatesCorporate power can get strange… but this story crosses into something far darker.In one of the most bizarre tech scandals in recent years, former eBay executives allegedly orchestrated a harassment campaign against a small newsletter that criticized the company. The tactics? Live spiders, a bloody pig mask, threatening packages, surveillance, and intimidation.What started as criticism of eBay’s leadership quickly escalated into a shocking abuse of corporate resources — raising serious questions about power, accountability, and how far tech executives might go to silence critics.In this episode of Rethinking Tech, we unpack the disturbing story behind the harassment campaign, the lawsuit that followed, and the bigger pattern of tech leaders operating in a different tier of accountability.• The bizarre harassment campaign against the creators of EcommerceBytes• How eBay executives allegedly used company resources to intimidate critics• Why the CEO’s messages saying “go get them” became key evidence• The culture of power and impunity among some tech leaders• Why accountability for executives often looks very different than for everyone elseThis story isn’t just about eBay. It exposes a deeper issue inside the tech industry: when executives gain enormous power, oversight and accountability often disappear. And when that happens, criticism can turn into something far more dangerous.What this episode covers is Why this matters🔗 Connect with Us📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 11, 2026

RT UpdatesCorporate power can get strange… but this story crosses into something far darker.In one of the most bizarre tech scandals in recent years, former eBay executives allegedly orchestrated a harassment campaign against a small newsletter that criticized the company. The tactics? Live spiders, a bloody pig mask, threatening packages, surveillance, and intimidation.What started as criticism of eBay’s leadership quickly escalated into a shocking abuse of corporate resources — raising serious questions about power, accountability, and how far tech executives might go to silence critics.In this episode of Rethinking Tech, we unpack the disturbing story behind the harassment campaign, the lawsuit that followed, and the bigger pattern of tech leaders operating in a different tier of accountability.• The bizarre harassment campaign against the creators of EcommerceBytes• How eBay executives allegedly used company resources to intimidate critics• Why the CEO’s messages saying “go get them” became key evidence• The culture of power and impunity among some tech leaders• Why accountability for executives often looks very different than for everyone elseThis story isn’t just about eBay. It exposes a deeper issue inside the tech industry: when executives gain enormous power, oversight and accountability often disappear. And when that happens, criticism can turn into something far more dangerous.What this episode covers is Why this matters🔗 Connect with Us📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

PodParley-generated summary based on available episode metadata and transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

eBay’s Bizarre Scandal: Executives Sent Spiders & a Bloody Mask to Silence Critics

0:00 4:39

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

XXX Tech by SOVRYN Dr. Brian Sovryn The crossroads between technology, sensuality, and metaphysics - and the longest running anarchist podcast in the world! Brought to you by Dr. Brian Sovryn. Dadgets Joe Vargo & Tony Gruenwald We’re dads! We love tech! We know your dad does too! We’re Joe and Tony and this is Dadgets! The Protocol CoinDesk Dive deep into the blockchain realm with The Protocol Podcast, where we unravel the intricate technologies powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Join us on a journey through the labyrinthine layers of blockchain innovation, as tech-savvy developers sculpt the future of finance and the decentralized web. Led by CoinDesk's adept journalists, we dissect the freshest news and project revelations, demystifying the mechanics and significance of it all for those hungry to grasp the inner workings of this dynamic and rapidly evolving industry.Meet your hosts: Brad Keoun, Sam Kessler, and Margaux Nijkerk…and tune in, techies! AI Generated - EDU Video Podcast Magnus Lian Explore how video tools and AI are transforming education with Magnus Sæternes Lian, Senior Engineer at NTNU and founder of ReadyMedia. This podcast dives into the latest video technologies, real-world use cases, and actionable insights for educators and tech enthusiasts. Created using cutting-edge AI tools like GoogleLM and ElevenLabs, all content is verified for accuracy. Discover practical solutions and stay ahead in the evolving landscape of educational technology!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Rethinking Tech?

This episode is 4 minutes long.

When was this Rethinking Tech episode published?

This episode was published on March 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

RT UpdatesCorporate power can get strange… but this story crosses into something far darker.In one of the most bizarre tech scandals in recent years, former eBay executives allegedly orchestrated a harassment campaign against a small newsletter that...

Can I download this Rethinking Tech episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!