Make law, not war

Last March, a Los Angeles jury reached a historic verdict: it held Meta and Google liable for a woman's social media addiction. The judge awarded damages totaling six million dollars, including three million as compensation for the harm done and three million in punitive damages (intended to punish the defendant), because the jury found that both companies had acted with malicious intent. Meta was responsible for seventy percent of the damages, Google for thirty percent.[1] This is the first time a jury in the United States has awarded this type of damages to an individual user in a liability suit against a social media company. How does social media make us addicted? That social media addiction exists is now widely recognized. Platforms are built to keep users glued to the screen for as long as possible: infinite scroll, notifications, likes: all design incentives and algorithmic recommendations that constantly cater to human tendencies. Research by Bits of Freedom, published in March 2026 and funded by the Creative Industries Incentive Fund, mapped those mechanisms. The researchers identified nineteen specific design types that facilitate online addiction, including endless scroll, gamification, social pressure and temporary content.[2] Bits of Freedom concluded that these are not accidental side effects, but all conscious choices by these social media platforms. Everything is set up with only one goal: addiction. Social media addiction is not yet recognized as a mental illness in the Netherlands,[3] which does not make the phenomenon any less real. That social media can cause damage is at least already visible in the Netherlands. Newcom's National Social Media Research 2026, conducted among more than six thousand respondents, shows that 2.6 million Dutch people feel less happy because of social media. 5.5 million are trying to reduce their use. Newcom sees a clear connection: more intensive use goes hand in hand with lower physical and mental well-being and greater demand for care.[4] Is there any legal action to be taken against these platforms in the Netherlands? The American ruling has no direct effect in the Netherlands. But it illustrates something that will also become legally relevant here: that platforms can be held responsible for the damage their products cause. In Europe, there is a legal basis for liability. Since Feb. 17, 2024, the Digital Services Act (DSA) has been in effect. This regulation requires large platforms to identify and mitigate the risks of their own algorithms. The AI Act, many of whose rules take effect on Aug. 2, 2026, additionally imposes obligations on systems that generate or recommend content. Further regulation is also expected from the upcoming European Digital Fairness Act in this context. Bits of Freedom suggests that this regulation should explicitly regulate addictive design, with an emphasis on autonomy and consent as a starting point. Consider, for example, the possibility for users to turn off addictive features. The first results of this legislation are already visible. On Feb. 6, 2026, the European Commission made a preliminary determination that TikTok, with its addictive design, potentially violates the DSA. In doing so, the Commission mentioned exactly the mechanisms that have been in the public debate

“More regulation is needed to protect children from nicotine use,” said Philip Morris (https://www.pmi.com/markets/netherlands/nl/over-ons/onze-visie). What is one of the largest tobacco companies saying here? Get more regulation to protect your children from our products. I had to let this sink in for a moment. PMI knowingly produces products that it itself says need more regulation. And why? So that the smoke-free generation can be realized. One interesting bit relates to adult smokers: “Adult smokers, as far as we are concerned, should be given the opportunity to be well informed about better choices than continuing to smoke cigarettes. That way they can make an informed choice and the smoke-free generation can actually be achieved.” PMI, how about a fund to pay for cessation programs? How about a discouragement policy? How about making vapes unattractive so young people don't start nicotine use? How about a fund to allow doctors to provide paid education in schools. You know those doctors who now do that on their own time. How about using your lobby (you know those thousands of non-contributing profiteers in the service of your industry, flooding Brussels) (https://npo.nl/start/video/de-tabakslobby/meer-informatie) differently or not at all? Your tentacles in politics reach far, you sit in each other's laps. The appointment of Ole Heil as Director of External Affairs on May 9, 2023 speaks volumes. Ole Heil comes from VWS and in your statement you call it a logical move. Smoking is harmful to health, you say, and you are in favor of a smoke-free generation. How about speaking out against selling smokes and vapes in stores where children like to go, such as the Primera? That store owned by your industry for 40%... Granted that's not Phillip Morris, maybe you were able to break free from the ashes of evil after all. We are three years into Ole Heil's tenure. Let's see what exactly has PMI accomplished? Pointer: “Pointer's data research shows that the tobacco industry is opening tobacco stores right next to the supermarket. In fact, 83 percent of Philip Morris-backed tobacco stores are within 100 meters (https://pointer.kro-ncrv.nl/hoe-de-tabaksindustrie-de-effecten-van-het-supermarktverbod-om-zeep-helpt). and “About one-third of new tobacco stores in the Netherlands opened with Philip Morris support. The tobacco giant finances large parts of the store's furnishing or remodeling, provides training to store staff on the benefits of heated tobacco, and provides support by sending representatives who inform customers about (tobacco) products. This revealed Distrifood in 2024.” How exactly does this relate to your message on your website? It doesn't? Oh you still want to keep making money with your sickening products and get a new generation addicted, because that is your revenue model, as you yourself say in the Pointer broadcast. I therefore interpret your appeal as a request to the government. A request that is sometimes made in court after a murder.