Claims extracted
20
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
10%
2 of 20 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
69/100
BBC News's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
- Published
eBay and some former executives have agreed to pay a couple $56m (£42m) after a campaign of harassment in retaliation for their online criticism of the firm.
asserted
eBay → agree → firm
In a statement on Tuesday, David and Ina Steiner, said they and eBay had reached a settlement stemming from the 2019 harassment they faced from several of the company's executives, as well as internal communications by eBay's then chief executive.
asserted
they → say → executive
The Steiners ran a website and newsletter EcommerceBytes that was at times critical of eBay.
asserted
that → run → eBay
A group of now former company executives ultimately pleaded guilty to sending the couple a costume mask covered in pigs blood, a book on surviving the death of a spouse, among other threatening actions.
asserted
group → plead → actions
Other actions, external perpetrated against the Steiners included eBay executives sending them a funeral wreath and harassing messages on Twitter (the social media platform now known as X).
asserted
executives → perpetrate → X
Some even paid visits to the couple's Massachusetts home in a bid to install a tracking device on their car.
asserted
Some → pay → car
Seven former eBay executives pleaded guilty, external to the criminal charges between 2022 and 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
uncertain
executives → plead → Justice
An FBI agent involved in the investigation said in 2024 that the former executives' actions were an "unprecedented, relentless, and over-the-top harassment campaign".
asserted
actions → say → top
eBay was also criminally charged and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the DOJ and agreed to pay a fine of $3m.
asserted
eBay → charge → 3
While eBay is paying the couple the bulk of the settlement, including $6m to "various non-profit organizations", Wenig is personally paying $1m toward the settlement.
asserted
Wenig → pay → settlement
Wenig left eBay in 2019.
asserted
Wenig → leave → 2019
The same year, he had sent eBay's top communications executive a text message regarding Ina Steiner which said: "Take her down."
asserted
which → send → her
A representative of Wenig on Tuesday said earlier proceedings in the Steiners' lawsuit explained that his text was referring to a public relations strategy to combat purported errors in Ina Steiner's writing.
asserted
text → say → writing
Wenig added: "No one should ever have been subjected to what the Steiners endured in 2019, and I'm saddened by it, especially because it occurred during my time as CEO of eBay.
asserted
it → add → eBay
The harassment was deliberately done in secret."
asserted
harassment → do → ?
His contribution is set to go to an unnamed charity that is "dedicated to protecting First Amendment rights" and will be gifted in the name of Ina Steiner, according to the couple's lawyers.
uncertain
that → set → lawyers
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech.
asserted
Amendment → protect → speech
Christopher Murphy of Scalli Murphy Law PC, which represented the Steiners in the case, said on Tuesday: "We believe this resolution sends a clear message that corporations and their executives cannot engage in this type of misconduct without facing significant consequences."
asserted
corporations → represent → consequences
eBay said: "What the Steiners were subjected to by former eBay employees in 2019 was wrong, reprehensible and should never have happened."
asserted
subjected → say → 2019
The company condemned the former employees who ended up pleading guilty to criminal charges that led to the civil lawsuit, and admitted to an "unprofessional tone in internal communications" by Wenig and other former executives.
"This agreement is consistent with our commitment to fairly compensate the Steiners and fulfills our efforts to make things right," eBay said on Tuesday.
asserted
eBay → condemn → Tuesday
The Aporia
