‘An absolute nightmare’: the disturbing tale behind the eBay harassment case

When Ina and David Steiner began covering the

When Ina and David Steiner began covering the tech industry from their Massachusetts home at the dawn of the millennium, the sector felt intimate and welcoming. Startups were still sprouting from garages, and the journalists who wrote about them often worked from their own kitchens. At that time, eBay was a fledgling online auction site, built on the belief that 'people are fundamentally honest.'

As e-commerce exploded, the couple launched EcommerceBytes, a digital newsletter aimed at the small merchants who increasingly relied on platforms like eBay to sell their goods. 'We saw it as a chance for everyday folks—those with disabilities, retirees, anyone looking for extra cash—to earn a living,' David recalls. The publication quickly gained traction, growing alongside its readership, which now stands at over 600,000. 'We were genuinely enthusiastic about the possibilities,' he adds.

But their enthusiasm turned to terror when the couple became the targets of a relentless harassment campaign—a saga now chronicled in the documentary 'Whatever It Takes.' The film reveals how a series of critical articles about eBay’s practices triggered a vicious response from the company’s own executives, who allegedly orchestrated a campaign of intimidation that included threatening messages, surveillance, and even the mailing of disturbing items to the Steiners' home.

'It was like living in a horror movie,'

'It was like living in a horror movie,' Ina says in the documentary. The couple, who had once viewed their work as a service to a community, found themselves under siege, their sense of safety shattered. The campaign, which they describe as 'an absolute nightmare,' ultimately led to federal charges against several eBay employees, including former executives, who pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.

The case sent shockwaves through the tech world, serving as a stark reminder of the potential consequences when corporate power is misused. For the Steiners, the ordeal has left lasting scars, but they remain committed to their journalistic mission. 'We still believe in the power of the press to hold companies accountable,' David says, 'but we now also know the price that can come with it.'