Meta and TikTok will tighten checks on posts about attempts to cross into Ceuta from Morocco after a large movement of people towards the Spanish enclave left dozens dead or missing. EU digital commissioner Henna Virkkunen has reached an agreement with the two platforms to strengthen moderation and fact-checking of content linked to the migration crisis.
The European Commission, Europol, Meta and TikTok will now exchange information every day about the situation.
Virkkunen has also spoken to Spain’s Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López about ways to stop further irregular crossings and prevent more deaths.
The EU says criminal networks may be using social media to spread false information and encourage people to make dangerous journeys.
The new measures will include closer cooperation with fact-checking organisations under the EU’s crisis rules.
What happened in Ceuta?
The events began on 29 and 30 July, when tens of thousands of people headed towards Ceuta from Fnideq in northern Morocco.
The number of people involved is disputed.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry put the figure at about 41,000. Spanish authorities gave a figure of up to 72,000.
The movement involved both land and sea crossings.
Several dozen people died or went missing during the attempts to reach the Spanish enclave. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) has counted more than 100 dead and missing people.
Social media played a major role in the movement.
False messages and videos spread on TikTok, Facebook and other platforms. Some claimed that border controls had been removed, that accommodation was available in Ceuta, or that people could easily continue their journey to mainland Spain.
Several videos that went viral had originally been published by a Spanish media outlet to show the pressure at the border.
Their rapid spread on social media raised concerns about how videos and rumours can encourage large groups of people to move towards a border.
European authorities and Europol have also identified criminal networks as a possible source of some of the false information.
What will Meta and TikTok do?
Virkkunen has asked both platforms to increase moderation and fact-checking of posts linked to the migration situation.
The European Commission wants to use the crisis mechanisms included in the Digital Services Act to deal with the spread of false information.
Commission officials and Europol will stay in daily contact with Meta and TikTok.
The platforms will also work more closely with fact-checking organisations to identify false claims and remove fraudulent content more quickly.
Virkkunen and López will continue working together on measures to prevent new crossings and reduce the risk of further deaths.
