Meta, TikTok agree to boost fact-checking after Ceuta migrant rush — EU

The European Union announced on Tuesday that social media giants Meta and TikTok had agreed to voluntary measures to enhance fact-checking of harmful disinformation related to the recent migrant crisis at Ceuta. While the EU did not explicitly compel the tech companies to take further action, it emphasized their commitment to the issue.

The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) allows for the activation of crisis protocols in times of significant online content challenges, and this is precisely what was initiated in response to the Ceuta migrant rush. Experts have highlighted how social media disinformation, including the false claim that "the Ceuta border is open," played a role in the deadly influx of 72,000 migrants from Morocco to Spain.

The EU, in coordination with Meta, TikTok, and the European police force Europol, has established a mechanism to improve cooperation between the platforms and local fact-checkers. This ad-hoc escalation tool allows for better information sharing from fact-checking organizations tasked with identifying and addressing harmful disinformation.

Meta confirmed that its team is actively monitoring the situation in Ceuta, removing content that violates its policies, and TikTok similarly highlighted its strict stance against content promoting human smuggling and illegal border crossings. Both platforms have also partnered with journalism and fact-checking organizations in Spain and Morocco, such as Newtral and MapExpress, to stay vigilant during rapidly-evolving situations.

While the EU sees this collaborative effort as effective, it has reserved the right to take more stringent measures if necessary under the DSA. This ongoing collaboration aims to ensure platforms receive better information from fact-checkers in order to effectively combat disinformation related to the migrant crisis.