In the lead-up to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Europe, a brief video shared on Instagram went viral with 1.4 million views. The video depicted a young man standing in water up to his neck, followed by a view of land in the distance and a map showing a sea route from Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Africa. The post’s creator later claimed they had reached their destination in response to comments.
This video was just one of numerous viral posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok that seemed to play a role in mobilizing two waves of irregular migration from Morocco to Ceuta. These posts were part of various online communities focused on migration-related content, including music, memes, and imagery. Some of these communities seemed to exploit the aspirations of young people from Africa and the Middle East seeking better opportunities abroad.
While there are conflicting opinions among governments and organizations regarding whether a single entity orchestrated the events in Ceuta or if migration was manipulated for geopolitical purposes, it is evident that misinformation spread by multiple online communities contributed to driving the migration waves towards Ceuta this summer.
CBC’s visual investigations team, with the help of Sebastian Vandermeersch from Bellingcat, identified several social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, that were active before the initial wave on July 30. These accounts began surging with posts following misinformation suggesting that a Spanish court ruling would allow migrants arriving by sea to enter the country. Many anonymous accounts then started promoting the idea of a feasible crossing, using similar language and visuals, resulting in millions of views.
The aftermath of this misinformation campaign was significant, as over 72,000 individuals crossed the border on July 30, overwhelming authorities in Ceuta and sparking a political crisis in Europe. While most of those who crossed on that day have returned to Morocco, approximately 5,000 individuals remain in Ceuta, with some living on a beach with assistance from charities. Tragically, nearly 100 people lost their lives attempting the crossing.
The surge in social media activity leading to these events underscores the real-world impact of misinformation when targeted at individuals desperate for solutions. Various social media accounts directed followers to WhatsApp chats for planning crossings and shared guidance on reaching Ceuta. Some accounts even offered advice directly on their feeds, further fueling the desire to migrate.
Following the initial crossing on July 30, Meta and TikTok collaborated to fact-check posts to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting misinformation for profit. However, a new wave of posts emerged ahead of August 15, promoting it as the next opportunity for entering Spain by land and sea. Accounts from the July 30 crossing, along with new ones, were active in mobilizing individuals for the August 15 event.
Moroccan and Spanish authorities were prepared for the August 15 crossing, deploying thousands of police officers on both sides of the border. According to reports, nearly 300 migrants were arrested by Moroccan authorities on that day. The Moroccan government had been monitoring social media posts encouraging the crossing and vowed to take action against those responsible.
The appeal of these messages found an audience due to the increasing number of successful migrant entries into Ceuta before the Spanish court ruling, according to the Mixed Migration Centre. Ceuta had become a popular entry point into Spain, with a significant rise in land crossings reported by the Spanish government compared to the previous year.
While social media played a role in shaping the misinformation that influenced these events, it is crucial to recognize that the desire to migrate existed independently of social media influence. The surge in migration-related messaging reflected the desperation and disenchantment among young people in North Africa and beyond, portraying migration as a pathway to a better future.
Accounts originating from North African countries, as well as Italy and Turkey, used imagery and language that romanticized migration to Europe without explicitly selling migration services. These accounts tapped into the aspirations of individuals facing economic challenges and limited opportunities in their home countries. Despite efforts to contact several accounts involved in the July 30 and August 15 events, no responses were received.