eBay has agreed to pay $56 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Ina and David Steiner, a couple who ran an e-commerce newsletter that had drawn criticism from top company executives. The harassment campaign, orchestrated by former eBay executives in 2019, involved threats and intimidation aimed at silencing the Steiners' critical coverage. According to TechCrunch, the couple had occasionally criticized eBay in their newsletter, which angered high-level executives. The BBC describes the actions as an "unprecedented" campaign of harassment. The settlement was reached in federal court and includes an apology from eBay. The Steiners alleged that eBay employees sent them threatening messages, including a preserved pig fetus and a book about surviving the loss of a spouse. The company has said it takes full responsibility for the actions of its former employees. The case highlighted the extreme measures some corporate leaders are willing to take against critics. eBay has since implemented new policies to prevent similar behavior. The settlement, which was announced on [date not specified in reports], brings an end to a legal battle that began after federal prosecutors charged several former eBay employees with cyberstalking in 2020. The Steiners' attorney said the settlement reflects the seriousness of the misconduct. eBay did not admit liability as part of the agreement but expressed regret over the incident.