6 Hrs
Source:
الشرق الأوسط
Social media falsehoods fueling Ceuta migration
In the city of Ceuta, which is occupied by Morocco and under Spanish control, there have been unprecedented influxes of migrants, reaching around 72,000 individuals over a few days in late July 2024. This surge followed a widespread misinformation campaign on social media claiming that the borders would be opened to migrants. The campaign, which targeted more than 11 million users, mainly focused on Facebook and WhatsApp, aiming to deceive migrants into believing they would not be deported if they arrived by sea. As a result, large numbers of people crossed into Ceuta. Spanish authorities repatriated 70,000 migrants back to Morocco, with 78 of them drowning, while 11 people lost their lives on the Moroccan side. Experts confirmed that these flows were the result of an organized campaign, and that the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision does not mean the borders are open; rather, deportation at sea differs from land crossings. Authorities warn of the possibility of repeating the crisis due to the continued spread of rumors and misinformation on social media, with expectations of new large-scale migratory waves.
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