Old Videos and AI Generated Images Mislead Social Media Users About Ceuta Crossings
Poinews.com – Old videos and AI generated images have flooded social media platforms following a historic migration surge into Ceuta, the Spanish territory bordering Morocco. In recent days, tens of thousands of migrants rushed across the border, creating one of the largest movements of people in the region’s history. While genuine reports documented approximately 72,000 individuals from Morocco crossing into Ceuta, a parallel wave of misleading visuals circulated online. These included AI-generated images presented as authentic news photographs and recycled videos falsely linked to the current crossings.
One particularly dramatic image purportedly showed a soldier raising a large rock above a migrant climbing an embankment. This visual was shared extensively across YouTube, X, and Reddit platforms. The photograph also appeared on Instagram, where it was credited to the prestigious news agency Reuters. However, thorough investigation revealed no evidence that Reuters actually published this image. When run through the verification tool of artificial intelligence research company OpenAI, the image was confirmed to have been generated using their own software.
Despite this, multiple users on Instagram appeared to believe the image to be real, with comments including, “Where is our love, humanity and compassion?”
How to Identify AI-Generated Content in Migration Coverage
While the soldier image is not authentic, several videos filmed from different angles do appear to show an incident matching the one depicted near Fnideq, the Moroccan town adjacent to Ceuta. News agency AFP reported there were clashes involving Moroccan security forces in the area, publishing video footage showing Moroccan officers wearing similar riot gear to that seen in the AI photo. A separate image claiming to show dozens of shoes floating in the sea was also shared on X, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.
The photograph, which was published by Moroccan news outlets to accompany their reporting on the issue, was also identified by OpenAI’s verification tool as having been generated using OpenAI software. A genuine photo was published by Reuters showing a float and shoes belonging to migrants floating on the shoreline near El Tarajal beach, in Ceuta. Another video being shared widely in the context of the Ceuta crisis is one that various social media users suggest shows that migrants have reached Andalusia, in southern Spain, by boat.
However, a reverse image search reveals that while the video does appear to show migrants arriving by boat, it has been miscaptioned. The clip is not related to the Ceuta crisis; it is at least three years old and has been reposted multiple times over the past few years, with accounts claiming each time that it is recent. Although Ceuta is Spanish territory, travellers entering mainland Spain must pass through Schengen border controls.
Those who remained in Ceuta after the surge have been described as having an unclear legal pathway and no reported means of onward travel, despite several expressing a desire to reach mainland Spain. Spanish authorities have also said that the vast majority of those who crossed into Ceuta have now been returned to Morocco, either voluntarily or by force.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ceuta Migration and Misinformation
How many migrants crossed into Ceuta during the recent surge? Approximately 72,000 people from Morocco crossed into Ceuta during the recent migration event, making it one of the largest crossings in the territory’s history.
What tools can help verify if images are AI-generated? OpenAI’s verification tool can identify images generated using their software. This tool was used to confirm that several images circulating online about Ceuta were AI-generated rather than authentic photographs.
Are all videos about Ceuta crossings fake? No. While some videos have been recycled from previous years, several videos filmed from different angles do show genuine incidents near Fnideq, the Moroccan town adjacent to Ceuta.
What is the legal status of migrants who remain in Ceuta? Those who remained in Ceuta after the surge have an unclear legal pathway and no reported means of onward travel, despite several expressing a desire to reach mainland Spain.
How are migrants being returned to Morocco? Spanish authorities have stated that the vast majority of those who crossed into Ceuta have been returned to Morocco, either voluntarily or by force.
