Portuguese group D3 sues Meta, TikTok and YouTube over addictive design

Portuguese digital rights group D3 has filed four collective action lawsuits against tech giants Meta Platforms, ByteDance, and Alphabet's YouTube in Lisbon’s Civil Court. The legal actions accuse the social media operators of intentionally implementing addictive design mechanisms—such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, push notifications, and personalized recommendation algorithms—that mimic behavioral feedback loops used in the gambling industry to keep users hooked without natural breaks. The lawsuits aim to force these tech companies to alter their product architecture and enhance user safety standards. This legal pressure in Portugal follows wider global regulatory scrutiny and significant litigation across both sides of the Atlantic, including European Union charges against TikTok and Meta's recent $18 billion settlement over social media addiction claims in the United States. According to SocialMediaTransparency.org, the four platforms recorded a combined reach of 33 million monthly users in Portugal in the first half of 2026. For investors, ongoing legal actions signal persistent compliance risks and potential operational adjustments to core engagement features that drive advertising revenue.