February 4, 2024TRIPOLI, Libya — TikTok has transformed from a borderless platform into a tool used to promote migration across boundaries. In Libya, traffickers have exploited the platform's wide reach and lack of proper oversight to promote illegal activities, and TikTok has become a haven for human traffickers preying on vulnerable migrants. With a surge in the number of refugees and illegal migrants in the country, smugglers have turned to TikTok to promote their services and entice new victims. Shocking scenesOmar al-Hamali, a 22-year-old Libyan who escaped to Germany a few months ago after securing a journey through TikTok, told Al-Monitor via WhatsApp, “Libyans will always find a way to leave Libya. We faced beatings and recklessness from armed men who worked with the smuggler, but today I've started a new life.”
