Migration: EU Commissioner blames tech giants for crisis in Ceuta

EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen has accused tech giants Meta and TikTok of indirect responsibility for the recent migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The Finnish politician stated, after a meeting with representatives from the two companies, that they had not done enough to combat the false information 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 surge into the small North African town. Social media networks appeared to play a significant role: many migrants reported that videos and messages on platforms like TikTok suggested that the normally heavily guarded border had suddenly become open.

Quickly, hope spread that accommodations would be available in Ceuta and further travel to the Spanish mainland awaited. The digital platforms' huge influence – especially in crisis situations – should make the popular social networks more vigilant in the future. A special session of the Member States said this week that in order to better prepare for similar developments, early warning systems could be further developed – possibly through the monitoring of social media.