Soziale Medien: EU-Kommissarin gibt Tech-Riesen Mitschuld an Migrationskrise in Ceuta

On Wednesday, EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen attributed indirect responsibility to major technology companies like Meta and TikTok for recent migration issues in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave. After meetings with representatives from the two firms, Virkkunen suggested they had not done enough to counteract false information circulating on their platforms.

Last week, tens of thousands of people from Morocco breached the border into Ceuta and surged into the small North African city, sparking a political dispute over the protection of EU external borders. Social networks appear to have played a significant role, as many migrants reported videos and messages on platforms like TikTok suggesting the typically heavily guarded border was suddenly open.

Hope quickly spread that Ceuta would provide accommodation and that further travel to the Spanish mainland awaited. To better prepare for similar developments, the EU intends to scrutinize popular social networks more vigilantly in the future. Following a special session of member states, it was announced this week that early warning systems could be further developed, potentially through the monitoring of social media.