Belgium rolls out social media crackdown to curb asylum seekers. Belgium rolls out WhatsApp and YouTube ads to stop asylum seekers.
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Belgium is taking its asylum deterrence strategy digital – launching targeted campaigns on YouTube and WhatsApp to warn potential migrants that the country’s asylum centres are at full capacity.
Federal Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt unveiled the initiative on Wednesday evening, March 19, during an appearance on Play4’s talk show De Tafel van Gert. The campaign, she explained, is designed to correct ‘misunderstandings and false expectations’ about seeking asylum in Belgium.
WhatsApp warnings and YouTube alerts
The Belgian Immigration Office has set up its own WhatsApp account to spread the message directly to those considering the journey. Meanwhile, videos designed to deter asylum applications are already being broadcast on YouTube in key transit and origin countries.
So far, the campaign has targeted Cameroonian and Guinean asylum seekers in Greece and Bulgaria, with videos racking up nearly 17,000 views in just a few days. Van Bossuyt confirmed that efforts will soon be expanded to reach other migrant groups.
‘Modernise and intensify’ asylum deterrence
The move aligns with the new federal coalition agreement, which promises to ‘modernise and intensify’ deterrence campaigns with an increased focus on social media, videos, and more engaging communication to reach real people.
And it doesn’t stop there. Van Bossuyt herself will take a hands-on approach, travelling to Moldova later this spring as part of Belgium’s efforts to curb asylum applications at the source.
The message is clear: Belgium wants to control the narrative on migration, and it’s doing so with modern tools, targeted messaging, and a direct line to those who might be thinking of making the journey.
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