Meta, TikTok told by EU to boost Ceuta fact-checking

The European Union told Meta and TikTok to increase monitoring and work more closely with fact-checkers after talks on Friday over disinformation concerns linked to the Ceuta migrant surge.

Henna Virkkunen, the European commissioner for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, called on the platforms to “act decisively” during crises. “Monitoring must increase, cooperation with fact-checkers to be strengthened,” she said, adding that the EU would follow up on Monday.

The talks followed the movement of large numbers of people into Ceuta, Spain’s north African territory, from Morocco on July 30-31. Spain announced Tuesday that 72,000 people had entered the enclave and that all but 2,000 had returned. Spanish authorities said 80 people died in the crossings.

EU migration chief Magnus Brunner described the Ceuta episode on Tuesday as a test of the bloc’s border security and its resilience to disinformation. He said the crossings were “fueled by criminal smuggling networks and also disinformation,” but cautioned that it was too early to say who was behind what he called online “instrumentalization,” including whether it involved smugglers or a foreign power such as Russia.

Technology company Golden Owl said an open-source investigation concluded “with a high degree of confidence” that the migrant rush was “a deliberately organised operation.” The incident has also caused a diplomatic rift between Spain and fellow EU member Italy, which supports a tough line on migration.