eBay Managers Sentenced for Cyberstalking Campaign Against Critics
- Two former eBay managers have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged cyberstalking of critics.
- The charges include harassment and intimidation tactics aimed at online adversaries.
- This indictment raises significant questions about corporate ethics and the lengths organizations might go to suppress dissent.
In a federal court in Boston, Brian Gilbert, the former Senior Manager of Special Operations for eBay's Global Security Team, was sentenced for his involvement in a cyberstalking campaign against a Massachusetts couple. Gilbert, 56, received a sentence of time served, one year of supervised release with a no-contact order with the victims, and a $20,000 fine. This case is part of a broader investigation that has already seen several eBay executives face penalties for their roles in the harassment. Stephanie Popp, another former Senior Manager of Global Intelligence, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in October 2022, while Philip Cooke, a former Senior Manager of Security Operations, received 18 months in prison and an additional year of home confinement in July 2021. Stephanie Stockwell, also a former Manager of Global Intelligence, was sentenced to one year of home confinement. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy highlighted the toxic culture at eBay that led to this harassment campaign aimed at silencing critics and protecting the company's reputation. The prosecution revealed that the defendants engaged in a coordinated effort to intimidate the victims, including sending threatening messages and planning to approach them under the guise of offering assistance. They even discussed misleading law enforcement to obstruct the investigation into their actions. The charges against eBay will be dismissed only if the company maintains compliance with the law over the next three years, as monitored by an independent entity. This case underscores the serious implications of corporate misconduct and the lengths to which some employees went to protect the eBay brand.