Polity & Governance
eBay executives sentenced for cyberstalking campaign against critics
What happened
A US court sentenced six former eBay executives and employees to prison for orchestrating a cyberstalking campaign against a Massachusetts couple who ran a blog critical of the company. The case, described as a corporate vendetta, involved threats, harassment and illegal surveillance over two years, culminating in a rare corporate criminal prosecution.
Key facts
Six former eBay executives and employees were sentenced to prison for their roles in a cyberstalking campaign against a Massachusetts couple.
The campaign lasted two years, from 2019 to 2021, targeting a blog run by the couple critical of eBay.
Actions included threats, harassment, doxxing, and illegal surveillance, such as installing a GPS tracker on the couple’s car.
The US Department of Justice prosecuted the case, calling it a rare instance of corporate criminal accountability.
Sentences ranged from 6 months to 5 years in prison for the convicted individuals.
Context
- eBay is a global e-commerce platform headquartered in San Jose, California.
- The company has faced scrutiny over workplace culture and labor practices in the past.
- Cyberstalking involves repeated, unwanted harassment using digital means such as emails, messages or surveillance.
- Corporate accountability for illegal actions by executives is uncommon but has precedent in high-profile cases.