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Ireland o Scotland o Wales + In Pictures + BBC Verify * Sport * Business + Business + Future of Business + Technology of Business + Work Culture * Innovation + Innovation + Technology + Science & Health + Artificial Intelligence * Culture + Culture + Film & TV + Music + Art & Design + Style + Books + Entertainment News * Travel + Travel + Destinations o Africa o Antarctica o Asia o Australia and Pacific o Caribbean & Bermuda o Central America o Europe o Middle East o North America o South America + World's Table + Culture & Experiences + Adventures + The SpeciaList * Earth + Earth + Natural Wonders + Weather & Science + Climate Solutions + Sustainable Business + Green Living * Video * Live + Live + Live News + Live Sport eBay pays $3m fine in blogger harassment case [grey-place]Getty Images An eBay logo on a phoneGetty Images The court filings said the victims had been left "emotionally, psychologically, and physically" terrorised. eBay has agreed to pay a $3m (PS2.36m) fine to resolve harassment charges against bloggers critical of the company. Executives at eBay sent live spiders and cockroaches to Ina and David Steiner, according to court papers. The couple were targeted for producing a newsletter the employees disliked, prosecutors said. The filings said the couple had been left "emotionally, psychologically, and physically" terrorised. The US Attorney's Office in the District of Massachusetts said Jim Baugh, eBay's former senior director of safety and security, had targeted the couple for producing EcommerceBytes, a newsletter that the company's executives were unhappy with. * 'Abominable' eBay harassment campaign ends in jail * Former eBay executives charged with cyber-stalking Baugh and six associates led a campaign to intimidate the Steiners, the court papers say. The acts of intimidation included sending live insects, a foetal pig and a funeral wreath to the Steiners' home in Natick, Massachusetts. Baugh and his associates also installed a GPS tracking device on the couple's car and created posts on the website Craigslist inviting sexual encounters at their home, according to the filings. The employees in question were fired by eBay shortly after the incident. In 2021, employee Philip Cooke was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The following year, Baugh was sentenced to nearly five years. Baugh's lawyers said he faced pressure from former eBay CEO Devin Wenig to reign in the Steiners over their coverage of the company. Mr Wenig, who stepped down in 2019, has not been charged in the case and denies knowledge of the harassment campaign. "eBay engaged in absolutely horrific, criminal conduct," acting Massachusetts US Attorney Josh Levy told the AP news agency by email. "The company's employees and contractors involved in this campaign put the victims through pure hell, in a petrifying campaign aimed at silencing their reporting and protecting the eBay brand." eBay Cyber-stalking Stalking --------------------------------------------------------------------- Related Airbnb, Vinted and apps to share data with tax body 2 days ago Business Fine for 'Queen's walking stick' eBay fraud 2 days ago Berkshire The sea glass artist fighting online fraudsters 03 Jan 2024 Tees --------------------------------------------------------------------- More 03 Dec 2023 [grey-place]Spay New funds for Smartwater trial to target abusers The liquid can be used to prove the presence of someone who may be breaching orders to stay away. 03 Dec 2023 Derby 29 Nov 2023 [grey-place]Gracie Spinks in a field with a horse Stalking victim's parents 'on mission' for change Richard Spinks and Alison Ward want to see national change in the way police respond to stalking. 29 Nov 2023 Derby 27 Nov 2023 [grey-place]Gracie Spinks in a field with a horse Stalking victims face postcode lottery, coroner says The coroner who led the inquest into the death of Gracie Spinks asks the home secretary for action. 27 Nov 2023 Derby 22 Nov 2023 [grey-place]CCTV footage of the abuse Stalker to be released despite being ruled unsafe Gareth Wyn Jones is serving a four-and-a-half year jail term for holding Rhianon Bragg hostage. 22 Nov 2023 Wales 20 Nov 2023 [grey-place]Gracie Spinks in a field with a horse Murderer killed self 'to avoid accountability' A coroner said Michael Sellers took his own life after stabbing Gracie Spinks to death. 20 Nov 2023 Derby --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Home * News * Sport * Business * Innovation * Culture * Travel * Earth * Video * Live * BBC Shop BBC in other languages --------------------------------------------------------------------- * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Contact the BBC * Advertise with us * AdChoices/ Do Not Sell My Info Copyright 2024 BBC. 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