Moroccan human rights report blames social media for Ceuta migration surges

A report by the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights identifies the role of social media accounts and misinformation in driving recent mass migration attempts toward the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The organization states that viral videos on platforms like WhatsApp and other social networks, combined with false claims regarding legal regularization for sea arrivals, significantly fueled these movements.

The report notes that misinformation often cited a Spanish Supreme Court ruling to suggest that migrants would not be immediately deported. Beyond digital influence, the report cites complex economic, social, and psychological factors, alongside restrictive European migration policies and the securitization of borders, as drivers of irregular migration.

While Moroccan authorities reportedly intercepted numerous crossing attempts and moved hundreds of individuals away from the Ceuta perimeter, the organization emphasized the need for humanitarian responses. It recommended adhering to international human rights principles, ensuring the use of force follows the rules of necessity and proportionality, and providing urgent protection for vulnerable groups, including children and minors.