AI Images and Old Videos Flood Social Media in Ceuta
As tens of thousands of migrants return to Morocco, fake visuals distort the picture of events at the Spanish enclave's border.
As tens of thousands of migrants return to Morocco, fake visuals distort the picture of events at the Spanish enclave's border.
Following an unprecedented wave of migration into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, social media has been flooded with disinformation. Alongside genuine reports of the crisis, in which around 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into Spanish-administered territory, numerous misleading visuals have emerged, including AI-generated images and old videos falsely linked to the latest events.
One of the most striking examples is a photo allegedly showing a "soldier" lifting a large stone above a migrant climbing over a seawall. The image was shared on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit, and on Instagram it was even attributed to the Reuters news agency. However, there is no evidence that Reuters published this photo. OpenAI's authenticity verification tool, which specializes in artificial intelligence research, confirmed that the image was generated by their software.
Despite this, numerous Instagram users believed the scene was authentic, leaving comments like: "Where is our love, humanity, and compassion?" Although the image is not real, several videos shot from different angles do show an incident matching the one in the photo near the town of Fnideq. The AFP news agency reported on clashes with Moroccan security forces in the area, publishing footage showing officers in riot gear similar to that in the AI photo.
Another image that circulated on social media, showing dozens of shoes floating in the sea, was also identified as the work of artificial intelligence. Although Moroccan media used it in their reports, OpenAI's tool confirmed it was generated by their software. In comparison, Reuters published an authentic photo showing a buoy and migrants' footwear on the beach of El Tarajal in Ceuta.
Among the disinformation, a video widely shared in the context of the Ceuta crisis stands out, with users claiming it shows migrants arriving by boat in Andalusia in southern Spain. A reverse image search reveals that the footage has nothing to do with the current crisis-it is at least three years old and has been repeatedly posted over the past years with claims that it depicts recent events.
Although Ceuta is Spanish territory, travelers wishing to enter mainland Spain must pass through Schengen border controls. For those who remained in the enclave after the migration wave, it is reported that they have no clear legal path or declared means to travel further, despite many wishing to reach the mainland part of Spain.
The wave of irregular migration was triggered by a decision of Spain's Supreme Court, according to which migrants who swim to Spanish territory cannot be immediately deported without an individual legal assessment. Local officials estimated on Monday that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta, while more than 69,000 had returned to Morocco. Spanish security sources reported on Saturday that around 69,500 migrants had returned to Morocco after entering Ceuta in previous days.
On Sunday, Spanish authorities installed a 500-meter floating security barrier at the Tarajal border crossing to prevent further crossing attempts. The same day, Morocco's Interior Ministry announced that around 40,000 people had headed toward Ceuta and that 11 people had died in these events. However, Spanish media reported the discovery of as many as 88 bodies in the sea off the enclave's coast.
Returnees described the harsh conditions they faced, including attacks to which some individuals were subjected after arriving in Ceuta. Mohamed Badidi, a resident of Fnideq, stated: "Many of those who crossed into Ceuta could not get water or bread. The price of a loaf of bread there rose to five euros, and a bottle of water to three euros." Unable to meet basic needs, many were forced to return.
Younes, from the city of Larache, recounted enduring hunger for three days in Ceuta, surviving on leftovers from restaurants. Despite everything, his dream of migration has not been extinguished. Similarly, Ismail Ishak from Tangier, who came to Fnideq after seeing friends who had managed to emigrate and find work, said: "I want to help my mother by realizing my dream."
An unnamed Moroccan official on Monday told Morocco's state news agency that the Spanish judge's decision was to blame for the situation, asserting that "Morocco has never failed to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities." According to him, the decision, in the eyes of smuggling networks and potential migrants, provided protection for illegal entry by sea.
The official expressed regret over the collapse of the deterrence system, posing rhetorical questions: "Did anyone inform Morocco so it could prepare? No. Did anyone foresee the consequences, which were highly predictable? No." He concluded that it was not surprising that criminal networks had seized the opportunity.
