eBay reaches $56M settlement with e-commerce newsletter writers it terrorized in 2019
eBay reaches $56M settlement with e-commerce newsletter writers it terrorized in 2019
eBay 与 2019 年遭其恐吓的电商通讯作者达成 5600 万美元和解协议
One of the most bizarre episodes in e-commerce history has come to a close. eBay and several former eBay employees have agreed to pay $56 million to a newsletter-writing couple who were targeted by the company’s former executives in a horrific targeted harassment campaign that took place in 2019. 电子商务史上最离奇的事件之一终于画上了句号。eBay 及数名前员工已同意向一对通讯作者夫妇支付 5600 万美元。这对夫妇曾在 2019 年遭到 eBay 前高管策划的一场骇人听闻的针对性骚扰。
Ina and David Steiner, a married couple and the co-authors of EcommerceBytes, inspired the ire of high-level eBay executives after occasionally criticizing the company in their newsletter. In 2019, a plot was concocted to intimidate the couple into halting their negative coverage. Executives used sock puppet social media accounts to harass the couple, while also sending them anonymous threatening letters and bizarre items in the mail — including live spiders and cockroaches, pornographic magazines, a bloody pig mask, a funereal wreath, and a book about surviving the death of a spouse. Ina Steiner 和 David Steiner 是一对夫妻，也是《EcommerceBytes》的共同作者。由于他们偶尔在通讯中批评 eBay，引发了该公司高层的不满。2019 年，一场旨在恐吓这对夫妇并迫使他们停止负面报道的阴谋被策划出来。高管们利用社交媒体上的“马甲”账号骚扰这对夫妇，并通过邮寄方式向他们发送匿名恐吓信和各种怪异物品，包括活蜘蛛、蟑螂、色情杂志、血淋淋的猪面具、葬礼花圈以及一本关于如何度过丧偶之痛的书。
According to previously released court documents, a plan that was attempted but never successfully carried out involved affixing a GPS tracking device to the couple’s car. Yet another internally broached plan involved sending a “Samoan gang” to the Steiners’ home. 根据此前公布的法庭文件，曾有一个试图实施但未成功的计划，即在这对夫妇的车上安装 GPS 追踪器。另一个内部讨论过的计划则是派遣一个“萨摩亚帮派”前往 Steiner 夫妇家中。
The settlement this week resolves a 2021 civil case brought by the couple against eBay. The law office representing the Steiners writes that the settlement includes $46.15 million paid to the couple by eBay itself, as well as $2 million from former eBay executive CEO Devin Wenig. Additionally, $500,000 will be paid out to the couple from former eBay executive Wendy Jones, as well as $50,000 from former eBay executive Steve Wymer. Additional funds are being paid to various non-profits. 本周达成的和解协议解决了这对夫妇于 2021 年对 eBay 提起的民事诉讼。代表 Steiner 夫妇的律师事务所表示，和解金包括 eBay 公司支付的 4615 万美元，以及前 eBay 首席执行官 Devin Wenig 支付的 200 万美元。此外，前 eBay 高管 Wendy Jones 将向这对夫妇支付 50 万美元，前 eBay 高管 Steve Wymer 将支付 5 万美元。其余资金将捐赠给各类非营利组织。
In 2022, seven former eBay employees were criminally charged and pled guilty in relation to the plot, including the company’s former security chief, James Baugh — who was sentenced to nearly five years in prison. Others indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice include David Harville, Brian Gilbert, Stephanie Popp, Stephanie Stockwell, Philip Cooke, and former eBay contractor Veronica Zea. 2022 年，七名前 eBay 员工因涉及此阴谋被刑事起诉并认罪，其中包括公司前安全主管 James Baugh，他被判处近五年监禁。美国司法部起诉的其他人员还包括 David Harville、Brian Gilbert、Stephanie Popp、Stephanie Stockwell、Philip Cooke 以及前 eBay 合同工 Veronica Zea。
In a statement published Tuesday, eBay disavowed its former employees’ behavior as “not representative of eBay’s culture” — which is comforting, I guess. “As we have long stated, what the Steiners were subjected to by former eBay employees in 2019 was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened,” eBay continued. “We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the employees who perpetrated and pled guilty to criminal charges for the misconduct against Ina and David Steiner.” 在周二发布的一份声明中，eBay 否认了其前员工的行为，称其“不能代表 eBay 的企业文化”——我想这多少让人感到些许安慰。eBay 继续表示：“正如我们长期以来所言，Steiner 夫妇在 2019 年遭受前 eBay 员工的对待是错误的、应受谴责的，且本不该发生。我们以最强烈的措辞谴责那些实施了针对 Ina 和 David Steiner 的不当行为并对刑事指控认罪的员工。”
“We continue to extend our deepest apologies to the Steiners. This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right.” “我们继续向 Steiner 夫妇致以最深切的歉意。这份协议符合我们公平补偿 Steiner 夫妇的承诺，也实现了我们纠正错误的努力。”
“This case was always about more than obtaining financial recovery,” said Christopher Murphy, one of the Steiners’ attorneys. “From the beginning, our clients wanted to uncover the truth, protect journalists and publishers, hold those responsible accountable, deter future corporate misconduct, and help ensure others would never have to endure what they experienced.” “此案的意义远不止于获得经济赔偿，”Steiner 夫妇的律师之一 Christopher Murphy 表示，“从一开始，我们的客户就希望揭露真相、保护记者和出版商、追究责任人的责任、震慑未来的企业不当行为，并确保其他人永远不必经历他们所遭受的一切。”