Reports that the small eastern European country is being considered a potential site for migrant camps have triggered a wave of misinformation.
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00:00Calls for migrants deportation centers outside the EU territory have triggered a wave of misinformation.
00:11Last week, EU leaders mulled the idea of establishing offshore centers to house irregular migrants who attempt to reach the European Union.
00:20The return hubs have been discussed. There are open questions for how long can people be there, what are you doing,
00:28for example, if a return is not possible.
00:30The idea, which has not yet been fully endorsed at EU level, has triggered a wave of misleading reports on traditional and social media
00:39with potentially serious consequences for the bloc.
00:42This article published by British newspaper The Times in early October said the European Union will set up deportation camps
00:50in neighboring countries such as Serbia, Albania and Moldova.
00:55Now, Italy has already struck a deal with Albania to house asylum seekers on its soil.
01:02But there are no confirmed reports of Serbia or Moldova being potential sites.
01:07But this news report from Canal 5 Moldova cites The Times article and claims Brussels is planning to create detention camps in EU candidate countries, including Moldova.
01:20The news rapidly multiplied on these Russian language outlets and social media.
01:26It forced the Moldovan government to scramble to debunk the reports.
01:31Here's a telegram post from government spokesperson Daniel Voda saying that the government is not discussing such a proposal and will not accept such ideas.
01:43The misinformation spread widely in the days leading up to Moldova's referendum on EU membership on Sunday.
01:50That vote went down to the wire with yes to EU membership scraping through by a razor-thin margin.