Ceuta migration crisis: rumor drove 72,000 across border as Russia-linked accounts spread far-right narratives

Mass crossing triggered by online rumor

A rumor spread across TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram claiming the border to Europe was open drove more than 50,000 people from Morocco toward the Spanish enclave of Ceuta within hours. The rumor was based on a simplified misrepresentation of a court ruling, according to Focus. The Guardian reports that 49,000 people attempted to cross overnight on 31 July, part of a multi-day crisis during which an estimated 72,000 migrants entered the small North African territory. Die Welt cites roughly 72,000 Moroccans who crossed the border, most of them through the sea. VRT NWS reports nearly 50,000 people crossed the border, with 2,000 to 8,000 still believed to be in Ceuta a week later. An estimated 1,000 minors remain in Ceuta with uncertain futures, per Die Welt.

Death toll varies across sources

The number of deaths reported varies significantly between sources. Die Welt reports that more than 80 people died on both sides of the border according to authorities, while Moroccan human rights organizations spoke of at least 141 dead. Süddeutsche Zeitung reports at least 100 people died attempting the sea crossing. Focus cites at least 72 dead. Nearly all surviving migrants were deported by Spanish authorities or returned voluntarily, according to Die Welt.

Russia-linked disinformation campaign

An analysis by 411, a British counter-disinformation consultancy, found that accounts linked to the Russian military and the Pravda network promoted far-right narratives during the crisis, reaching more than 500,000 people. The disinformation barrage began on 1 August, the day after the overnight crossing attempt. The accounts framed events as a deliberately coordinated "assault" and suggested authorities were complicit, adding Islamophobic and antisemitic conspiracy theories. The narratives were reproduced in seven languages and reached more than 720,000 views over six hours on 1 August, based on 411's examination of roughly 4.5 million social media posts. Some far-right accounts called for nationalists to gather in Ceuta and "patrol" businesses and homes, The Guardian reports.

We keep seeing this across Europe and we find it very interesting. It seems like there is some type of machinery in place, or structure.

Morocco sentences taxi drivers

Seven Moroccan taxi drivers were sentenced to prison terms of up to six months for driving people to the Ceuta border, Die Welt reports. They were found guilty of facilitating the illegal departure of Moroccans and foreigners and transporting passengers without a license. Each must pay approximately 930 euros in fines, and one vehicle was confiscated, according to the ruling published on the Ministry of Justice website. A union criticized the verdicts. The ministry and the public prosecutor's office did not initially respond to requests for comment.

Social media's dual role

Social media played a role both in prompting the crossing and in amplifying the response to it. 411's analysis confirmed "peer-to-peer logistics chatter" between potential migrants about how to make the crossing, much of it in comment sections beneath viral posts. VRT NWS fact-checked several viral videos purportedly showing the situation in Ceuta, finding that some were old footage from 2023, and one showing a train station overwhelmed by travelers was actually filmed in Kenitra, Morocco. The distinction between misinformation, false claims shared by those who believe them, and disinformation, deliberate misleading claims spread to provoke a reaction, remains difficult to establish in this case, Focus notes.