Former eBay Manager Sentenced for Cyberstalking Campaign
- A former security manager at eBay has been sentenced for participating in a cyberstalking campaign.
- The case was prosecuted in federal court in Boston.
- This incident raises concerns about online harassment and the responsibilities of tech companies in safeguarding their communities.
BOSTON (AP) — Brian Gilbert, the former senior manager of special operations for eBay Inc.’s global security team, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday for his involvement in a disturbing cyberstalking campaign against a Massachusetts couple. Gilbert, 56, received a sentence of time served, one year of supervised release with no contact with the victims, and a $20,000 fine. He had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses in October 2020. The harassment targeted David and Ina Steiner, who ran an online newsletter, EcommerceBytes, that angered eBay executives due to its critical coverage. Gilbert was one of seven former eBay employees and contractors charged in connection with the campaign, which was described as a horrific effort to intimidate the couple and silence their reporting. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy stated that the sentencing marks the conclusion of the prosecution against eBay’s conduct, highlighting the toxic culture that led to such actions. The campaign, executed in August 2019, involved a series of disturbing deliveries to the Steiners’ home, including a preserved fetal pig and a bloody Halloween mask. Additionally, the couple's home address was publicly shared, inviting unwanted attention. The harassment escalated to surveillance of the victims, prompting them to alert local police, who initiated an investigation. In January, eBay Inc. agreed to pay a $3 million fine to settle criminal charges related to the harassment, which included sending live spiders and cockroaches to the couple’s residence, further underscoring the severity of the actions taken by its employees.