In the lead-up to the recent surge of migrants arriving in Europe, a brief video shared on Instagram gained significant attention with 1.4 million views. The video depicted a young man partially submerged in water, followed by a view of the land in the distance, with a map outlining a sea route from Fnideq, Morocco, to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in Africa. The account holder claimed “we’ve arrived” in response to comments on the post.
This video was one of many viral posts on various social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok that seemed to have influenced two waves of irregular migration from Morocco to Ceuta. The most recent attempt on August 15 resulted in numerous arrests.
These online accounts are part of a larger network focused on migration-related content, including music, memes, and images. Some of these accounts seem to be exploiting the aspirations of predominantly African and Middle Eastern youth seeking better opportunities abroad.
There is ongoing debate among governments and organizations about the orchestration of the events in Ceuta and whether migration was manipulated for geopolitical purposes. However, what is evident is that misinformation spread across multiple online communities played a significant role in driving the migration waves towards Ceuta this summer.
CBC’s visual investigations team, in collaboration with Sebastian Vandermeersch from Bellingcat, identified numerous social media accounts, particularly on Instagram, that were active prior to the initial wave on July 30. The surge in posts was triggered by false information suggesting a change in Spanish policies regarding migrant arrivals by sea, leading to a flood of similar posts promoting the idea of a feasible crossing.
The repercussions were substantial, with over 72,000 people crossing the border on July 30, overwhelming authorities in Ceuta and sparking a political crisis in Europe. While most of those who crossed have returned to Morocco, around 5,000 individuals remain in Ceuta, with some living on a beach with support from charitable organizations. Tragically, nearly 100 people lost their lives in the attempt.
The situation underscores how misinformation, when amplified through online channels, can have tangible effects on individuals in desperate situations seeking solutions. The push towards Ceuta was fueled by a combination of social media manipulation and actual migration patterns that preceded the online surge.
The article discusses how social media accounts guided followers to WhatsApp groups for planning crossings and shared instructions on reaching Ceuta. Some accounts even offered advice directly on their feeds, further facilitating the migration process.
After the July 30 incident, Meta and TikTok collaborated to fact-check posts to prevent criminal organizations from exploiting migrants through misinformation. Despite these efforts, a new wave of posts emerged ahead of August 15, promoting another opportunity for entry into Spain.
Moroccan and Spanish authorities were prepared for the August 15 influx, with thousands of police deployed on both sides of the border. The authorities arrested nearly 300 migrants on that day, following warnings about social media messages encouraging the border crossing.
The article also delves into the reasons behind the online surge, attributing it in part to the increasing number of successful migrant entries into Ceuta before the recent events. While social media played a role in shaping perceptions, the desire to migrate predated the online misinformation campaigns.
The accounts identified in the article largely originate from North African countries like Morocco and Algeria, with some potential links to Italy and Turkey. The messaging in these accounts often glamorizes migration as an opportunity for a better life, resonating with disillusioned and desperate youth in the region.
Despite attempts to contact several accounts involved in the migration waves, no responses were received, highlighting the challenge of engaging with these online actors.
