EU tells Meta, TikTok to boost monitoring, fact-checking

The European Union's technology chief has urged Meta and TikTok to take immediate action to combat disinformation during crises, following a deadly surge of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave. According to Henna Virkkunen, the EU's Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, the platforms must act decisively to maintain the integrity of the digital space, especially during times of crisis.

The incident, which saw tens of thousands of people from Morocco enter Ceuta after a rumor spread on social media that the border was open, resulted in 80 deaths. Spanish authorities reported that out of the 72,000 individuals who crossed into Ceuta on July 30-31, only 2,000 had returned by Tuesday.

The Spanish government has accused right-wing voices of exploiting the situation to highlight Europe's struggle with uncontrolled immigration. This has led to a diplomatic rift between Spain and Italy, with Italy advocating for stricter immigration policies.

EU migration chief Magnus Brunner characterized the Ceuta event as a "test" of the bloc's border security and resilience to disinformation. He acknowledged that criminal smuggling networks likely fueled the crossings, but emphasized that disinformation also played a significant role.

Brunner cautioned that it was too early to determine who was behind the online instrumentalization of the situation, whether it was smugglers or a foreign power like Russia. He stressed that the EU must enhance its capacity to monitor misinformation trends on social media, collaborating closely with Europol and other EU agencies.

A recent open-source investigation by technology company Golden Owl concluded with a high degree of confidence that the migrant rush was a deliberately organized operation. Various media outlets, including AFP, receive financial support from platforms like Meta, Google, and TikTok for their efforts to counter disinformation.