As European governments debate restricting social media for children under 16, a wave of civil lawsuits across the continent is targeting platforms like Meta and TikTok. Families in France, Italy, and the United Kingdom are alleging that algorithmic design and inadequate safeguards have led to severe harm, including suicide and self-harm among minors. These cases mirror similar legal actions in the United States, where a California judge recently denied Meta and Google’s request for a new trial in an addiction case that resulted in a €5.17 million payout to a former young user.
Italy: First Class Action Targets Age Verification
In Milan, an Italian rights group, MOIGE, has filed a class action lawsuit against TikTok and Meta—the first of its kind in Italy. The suit demands that the platforms implement stronger age-verification systems for users under 14 and publish transparent information about how their algorithms work. The goal is to protect the roughly 3.5 million Italian children aged 7 to 14 who are illegally active on social media.
During the initial hearing in May, lawyers for Meta and TikTok challenged the Italian court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate the case. According to MOIGE, the companies also “attempted to downplay the scientific significance” of evidence showing they are already aware of the harms their platforms cause to children. The next court date is set for June 30, with a final hearing scheduled for November 19—one day before International Children’s Rights Day. Euronews Next reached out to Meta and TikTok for comment but did not receive an immediate reply.
France: Criminal Investigation into TikTok Algorithms
In France, a group of families called Algos Victima sued TikTok in 2024, alleging that the platform’s algorithm exposed teenagers to content promoting self-harm, eating disorders, and suicide, leading to two suicides. In November 2025, French prosecutors opened a formal criminal investigation into whether TikTok’s algorithms endangered vulnerable minors. The probe could cover offences including the promotion of suicide-related content and unlawful collection of personal data.
In May, Algos Victima expanded its suit to include abuse of vulnerability and now represents 16 families. Five of these families are grieving the suicides of their daughters; the other young people suffer from severe eating disorders, depression, or suicidal thoughts linked to content they viewed on the platform. As of June 2026, no public trial dates have been announced.
United Kingdom: Scottish Family Joins US Lawsuit
The UK has also become part of this broader wave of litigation. The family of Scottish teenager Murray Dowey, who died by suicide in December 2023 after being tricked into sending intimate pictures to an Instagram contact, joined a Delaware wrongful death lawsuit against Meta. The Social Media Victims Centre, which filed the complaint, stated that Dowey’s death and others are the “foreseeable consequence of the deliberate design decisions made by Meta.” The centre alleges Meta was aware since 2019 of a feature allowing adult strangers to connect with children, exposing them to predators.
These European cases highlight a growing transatlantic movement to hold social media companies accountable for the well-being of young users. As courts in Milan, Paris, and Delaware weigh evidence, the outcomes could reshape how platforms operate across the continent. For more on European tech sovereignty, see our coverage of France and Germany’s push for AI sovereignty at VivaTech.
