The eBay settlement ends a long-running harassment case brought by David and Ina Steiner after threats tied to their criticism of the company.
eBay settlement talks have ended in a $56 million deal with David and Ina Steiner, closing a long-running case over a harassment campaign aimed at the couple after they criticized the company online. The Steiners said Tuesday that they and eBay had reached an agreement tied to the 2019 harassment they say they faced from former company executives and from internal communications involving eBay’s then chief executive.
The Steiners ran EcommerceBytes, a website and newsletter that at times published criticism of eBay. Their lawsuit grew out of a series of disturbing actions that prosecutors and investigators later tied to former eBay employees. Some of the conduct also included visits to the Steiners’ Massachusetts home in an effort to install a tracking device on their car.
Seven former eBay executives pleaded guilty to criminal charges between 2022 and 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice said. An FBI agent involved in the investigation described the conduct in 2024 as an “unprecedented, relentless, and over-the-top harassment campaign.” That language underscored how far the case went beyond a routine corporate dispute and into conduct that federal authorities treated as criminal.
eBay itself was also charged and later entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department, along with a $3 million fine. Under the settlement now announced, eBay will pay most of the $56 million, including $6 million directed to various nonprofit organizations. Former chief executive Devin Wenig is personally contributing $1 million toward the total.
“The eBay settlement ends a long-running harassment case brought by David and Ina Steiner after threats tied to their criticism of the company.”
Wenig left eBay in 2019, the same year he sent a text to the company’s top communications executive that said, “Take her down,” in reference to Ina Steiner. A representative for Wenig said earlier court proceedings in the Steiners’ lawsuit explained that the message referred to a public relations strategy aimed at correcting what the representative called errors in Ina Steiner’s reporting. Wenig also said no one should have been subjected to what the Steiners experienced in 2019 and said he was saddened that it happened while he was CEO.
His share of the settlement is set to go to an unnamed charity dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights, and the gift will be made in Ina Steiner’s name, according to the couple’s lawyers. Christopher Murphy, who represented the Steiners, said the outcome sends a message that corporations and executives cannot engage in this kind of misconduct without serious consequences.
eBay said the treatment the Steiners faced in 2019 was wrong and should never have happened. The company also condemned the former employees who pleaded guilty and acknowledged an unprofessional tone in internal communications by Wenig and other former executives. The company said the agreement fits its effort to compensate the Steiners fairly and make things right. For American readers, the case stands as a sharp reminder that speech, criticism, and corporate power can collide with real-world consequences, and that the legal system can still hold people accountable when that line is crossed.
Frequently asked questions
What was the settlement between eBay and the Steiners about?
It resolved a long-running case over harassment the Steiners said they faced after criticizing eBay online. The settlement is tied to conduct in 2019 involving former eBay employees and internal communications from then CEO Devin Wenig.
How much will eBay pay in the settlement?
The total settlement is $56 million. eBay will pay most of it, including $6 million directed to various nonprofit organizations.
Did anyone involved face criminal charges?
Yes. The U.S. Department of Justice said seven former eBay executives pleaded guilty to criminal charges between 2022 and 2024. eBay also entered a deferred prosecution agreement and paid a $3 million fine.
What happened in the communications involving Devin Wenig?
Wenig sent a 2019 text saying, “Take her down,” referring to Ina Steiner. His representative said the message was part of a public relations strategy aimed at correcting what it called errors in her reporting.
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