Spain's traffic authority switches off cameras in Ceuta and Melilla

Spain's DGT switches off the cameras in Ceuta and Melilla without giving any explanation

The DGT (Spain's traffic authority) has deactivated the traffic control cameras in Ceuta and Melilla. The move, which came to light in recent hours, has fuelled suspicion: at a time of peak speculative tension at the border, switching off the state's electronic eyes hardly seems a harmless decision. Meanwhile, in provinces like Cuenca, the cameras are still running, and there are plenty of them.

Censorship or routine maintenance?

Interpretations are divided. Some argue the shutdown is meant to hide what is happening at the border perimeter in the event of a possible conflict scenario or sovereignty negotiation. It is not a far-fetched theory for those who remember that cameras have been an uncomfortable witness to episodes at other borders. The counterargument is that this is maintenance or technical upgrading work, something routine in an obsolete system. But if that is the case, it is striking that the measure coincides with the moment of greatest geopolitical noise in the area.

The shadow of the Strait of Hormuz

In parallel, social media have linked this decision to the broader geopolitical drift: from Trump's threats over the Strait of Hormuz to speculation about a change of status for Ceuta and Melilla. The mix is explosive, even if it is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff.

The only thing that is clear is that the cameras are off. If the intention was to prevent something from being seen, it is probably a futile effort: the internet always finds a way. And if it was routine, the timing could not have been worse.