How Online Disinformation Fuelled Ceuta Migrant Surge
- An unprecedented 72,000 migrants poured into Ceuta from Morocco starting July 30, mostly by swimming around barriers in the Mediterranean Sea. Spain constructed a 1,600 ft floating sea barrier on August 1st to deter future crossings.
- Rumors that "the Ceuta border is open" spread via social media, fueled by a misinterpretation of a July Supreme Court ruling that actually applied only to migrants intercepted on the high seas. An online campaign generated 11 million views from early July.
- Technology firm Golden Owl concluded "with a high degree of confidence" that the migrant rush "was a deliberately organised operation." Spanish authorities recovered 78 bodies of migrants who drowned, while Morocco reported 11 deaths on its side.
- Ceuta's migrant accommodation center, limited to 500 beds, quickly exceeded capacity as residents closed businesses. Lawyers Antonio Benitez Ostos and Antonio Jesus Perez stated the floating barriers could "legally enable" border returns if deemed containment elements.
- Social media expert Marcelino Madrigal warned "this isn't over," citing fresh online posts calling for mass arrivals in August. U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation as a "catastrophe" reflecting "weak law" and "bad management" in Spain.
57 Articles
57 Articles
After a few days, the avalanche produced at the Ceuta border and already quantified at more than 70,000 people by the Minister of the Interior has ceased to be the first trend on social networks. We tire almost at the same speed of the silliness of Rubiales' "kiss" and of the demonstration of how inconsistent the African border of the European Union is. But in this second we are risking the existence of the whole and the part, at a time when a p…
The authorities of Ceuta recover this Thursday two more bodies next to the seabreak border with Morocco, victims still of the mass crossing of 30 July
The death toll has risen to 100 after the storming of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Between three and five thousand immigrants are estimated to still be there, reports the BBC. Now people are again being encouraged to get to Spain from Morocco.
ledauphine.com
The number of people who died trying to join the Spanish enclave from Morocco has been increased to 80 on Thursday. On the spot, NGOs warn about the fate of minors.
Social networks have played a catalytic role in encouraging people for several weeks to try to travel illegally to Ceuta from Morocco. ...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
