eBay has agreed to pay a substantial fine of $3 million (£2.36 million) in order to settle charges related to the harassment of bloggers who were openly critical of the company. The disturbing details emerged in court documents, revealing that high-ranking eBay executives, including Jim Baugh, the former senior director of safety and security, orchestrated a targeted campaign against Ina and David Steiner, the couple behind the newsletter EcommerceBytes, which the company's leadership disapproved of.

The court papers outline a series of alarming incidents, including the dispatch of live spiders and cockroaches to the Steiners' residence in Natick, Massachusetts. This relentless campaign of intimidation left the couple, according to prosecutors, in a state of being "emotionally, psychologically, and physically" terrorized. Jim Baugh, alongside six associates, allegedly spearheaded this effort to silence the Steiners, going to extreme lengths.

The harassment tactics escalated to sending live insects, a foetal pig, and even a funeral wreath to the Steiners' home. Moreover, Baugh and his associates reportedly installed a GPS tracking device on the couple's car, infringing on their privacy. Additionally, the perpetrators created misleading posts on the popular website Craigslist, inviting strangers to engage in sexual encounters at the Steiners' residence.

The aftermath of these reprehensible actions saw the termination of the involved employees by eBay. In the legal proceedings, Philip Cooke, an eBay employee, received an 18-month prison sentence in 2021, while Jim Baugh was handed a nearly five-year sentence in the subsequent year.

Baugh's defense claimed that he faced pressure from eBay's former CEO, Devin Wenig, to rein in the Steiners and control their coverage of the company. However, Wenig, who resigned from his position in 2019, has not been charged in connection with the harassment campaign and vehemently denies any knowledge of it.

Acting Massachusetts US Attorney Josh Levy strongly condemned eBay's conduct, labeling it as "absolutely horrific, criminal conduct." Levy emphasized that the employees and contractors involved in this campaign created a petrifying environment for the victims, with the clear intention of stifling their reporting and safeguarding the eBay brand.