Fake Social Media Accounts Reportedly Pushing Second Wave of Ceuta Crossings
The Spin
Left narrative
Social media platforms must be held accountable for allowing obviously fake accounts to promote deadly crossings to millions, raking in cash from desperate migrants and gaming algorithms to spread the lie further. The Digital Services Act gives the EU real teeth to force TikTok and Meta to act, and that pressure is already pulling down smuggler networks. Letting platforms off the hook while bodies wash ashore is morally inexcusable.
Right narrative
Spain's government watched intelligence reports, saw the social media mobilization building for days and still left Ceuta exposed — an egregious government failure. With groups of 400,000 members openly coordinating another Aug. 15 crossing, blaming Instagram is a convenient dodge for politicians who refused to act. Europe's southern border can't be held together with fact-checkers while ministers dodge parliamentary demands.
Narrative C
Social media has been a part of this crisis since the first migrant wave, and the Moroccan government has almost certainly been aware of this the whole time. Israel and the U.S. also have deep ties to Morocco and are no friends of Spain, not to mention Morocco's history of using Israeli spyware to target European politicians. While social media platforms and Spain should be criticized, other potential actors shouldn't be ignored.
Metaculus Prediction
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