Meta and TikTok Agree to Fact Check Spain Border Crossing Content After Incident
Social Networks Respond to Spain Border Crossing Crisis
Background of the Incident
BRUSSELS, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Social networks Meta and TikTok have agreed to fact-check content on border crossings into Spain following the massive rush to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco late last month, European Union tech chief Henna Virkkunen said.
The purpose is to prevent criminal networks from enticing potential migrants to attempt to cross with false information, which has led to tragic deaths, she said in a post on X late on Monday.
Fact-Checking Measures and Cooperation
- Meta and TikTok agreed with the EU to set up an "ad-hoc escalation and cooperation mechanism with fact-checkers" as part of crisis protocols, according to the post.
- The Commission and pan-European police force Europol are discussing the situation with the two companies every day, the post said.
Government and Law Enforcement Involvement
- Virkkunen also spoke with Oscar Lopez, the Spanish minister for digital economy, on how to prevent border crossing and the loss of lives.
Impact of Viral Content and Migration Pressures
- More than 70,000 would-be migrants flooded into Ceuta in a mass rush on July 30 that left nearly 100 dead.
- Would-be migrants were encouraged by a handful of viral videos, including some posted by a Spanish news outlet intended to highlight the burden of migration pressures.
- Ceuta and Melilla have the EU's only land borders with Africa and both cities periodically experience surges in attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Reporting and Editorial Credits
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Kevin Buckland)