Social Media: EU Commissioner Blames Tech Giants for Migration Crisis in Ceuta

Brussels. EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has indirectly blamed tech companies such as Meta and TikTok for the recent migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. After a meeting with representatives of the two companies, the Finn suggested that they had not done enough to counter misinformation circulating on their platforms.

Last week, tens of thousands of people crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta, triggering a political dispute over the protection of the EU's external borders with their rush into the small North African city. Social networks also appeared to play a significant role: numerous migrants reported that videos and news on platforms such as TikTok had suggested that the normally heavily secured border was suddenly open.

The hope quickly spread that accommodation would be available in Ceuta and that further travel to the Spanish mainland would be possible. In order to be better prepared for similar developments in the future, the EU wants to monitor popular social networks more closely. Following an emergency meeting of the member states, it was stated this week that early warning systems could be further developed to improve the common situation picture, for example through the monitoring of social media.