‘Whatever It Takes’ documentary explores eBay harassment allegations aimed at Silicon Valley reporters Ina and David Steiner

A new documentary film, Whatever It Takes, is drawing attention to an alleged harassment campaign that The Guardian describes as an “aggressive stalking” effort directed at a Massachusetts couple who reported on Silicon Valley as their careers began in the early 2000s. The film’s account centers on Ina and David Steiner, a husband-and-wife reporting team whose work included criticism of the technology company eBay, according to the coverage.

The Guardian’s report frames the era in which the Steiners began their reporting as a period when Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem was still less formalized, with relationships that could feel personal. It says that when their coverage became critical of eBay, the couple later faced what the documentary characterizes as a prolonged campaign of intimidation.

Whatever It Takes, as described by The Guardian, presents the couple’s experience as a “horrible nightmare,” portraying the alleged harassment as escalating beyond ordinary disagreement over business practices. The documentary reportedly links the Stieners’ reporting choices to the behavior that followed, describing the campaign in terms of stalking and targeted pressure.

The film’s subject matter also reflects a broader media issue: how scrutiny of large technology companies can trigger conflict that spills into the lives of journalists, not just public debate. In the Guardian account, the Steiners’ reporting about Silicon Valley at the turn of the century is used to situate why the couple’s relationship with the beat and with technology firms could become contentious.

The Guardian coverage notes that the documentary takes aim at the personal toll of alleged harassment, but it does not replace court process or official findings. As with similar disputes involving harassment allegations, the existence of a documentary does not by itself establish responsibility, and the underlying facts would typically require independent verification through legal records or on-the-record statements.

Whatever It Takes is set against a timeline that places the initial period of the Steiners’ reporting at the early stages of Silicon Valley’s growth, as described in the Guardian piece. The report’s framing emphasizes that the tech beat once operated at a scale where industry tensions could be experienced at an individual level.

The film’s renewed visibility through The Guardian’s coverage is likely to bring fresh attention to the question of protections for journalists and the consequences that alleged stalking campaigns can have on family life, personal safety, and the ability to continue professional work. Whether the documentary leads to new reporting, legal action, or institutional review would depend on developments outside the film itself.

For readers, the key practical takeaway from the coverage is the documentary’s focus on how harassment allegations can become enduring, and how the media industry often relies on formal mechanisms to address safety concerns. The Guardian report describes the Steiners’ experience through the lens of a film, while readers would need additional documentation from public records to determine the status and specifics of any claims.