US lawsuit over Meta app addiction begins as German NGO files complaint

On August 12, 2026, a major US lawsuit against Meta over the addictive nature of Instagram and Facebook began. The case, filed by plaintiffs in the United States, alleges that Meta designed its platforms to hook users, particularly minors. Separately, the German advocacy group HateAid filed a criminal complaint against Meta, focusing on the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses and their AI features. HateAid's complaint raises concerns about potential privacy violations and other harms related to the glasses. The two actions highlight growing regulatory and legal scrutiny of Meta's products on both sides of the Atlantic.