Spanish far-right YouTubers fuel anti-Muslim hate, experts warn
These influencers spread anti-Muslim narratives, amplify misinformation, helping push extremist ideas
MADRID (MNTV) — A growing network of far-right YouTubers in Spain is driving anti-Muslim narratives and bolstering the country’s anti-immigration movement, experts warn.
These influencers, dubbed “Fachatubers,” spread Islamophobic and xenophobic content to hundreds of thousands of followers, amplifying misinformation about Muslim communities.
According to UK-based outlet Hyphen, Fachatubers have played a key role in the rise of Spain’s far-right party Vox, which has pushed an anti-Muslim agenda since entering parliament five years ago.
Vox leaders frequently appear on these channels, where fabricated statistics and misleading claims about crime and immigration are presented as fact.
Spanish authorities have debunked several claims made by these influencers, including false reports that police warned elderly residents to avoid public spaces due to migrant violence.
Similarly, exaggerated crime statistics have been used to scapegoat Moroccan men, with analysis revealing that figures were manipulated by conflating city-level population data with crime statistics from a much larger region.
The influence of these far-right content creators extends beyond Spain.
Social media platforms have allowed them to build significant audiences, mirroring the role of right-wing influencers in other countries, such as those credited with aiding Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.
Despite widespread misinformation, platforms like YouTube continue to profit from engagement-driven content, fueling the spread of hate speech.
Muslim voices attempting to counter these narratives face significant backlash.
Muslim TikTok influencer Río Paraíso, who debated a prominent Fachatuber in 2020, has since faced ongoing harassment and threats.
“Whenever I travel back to Spain, I have to be accompanied because I don’t feel safe,” she told Hyphen.
The rise of these digital platforms has coincided with a surge in hate crimes.
Spain’s Interior Ministry recorded a 21% increase in hate-motivated incidents in 2023, with racism and xenophobia making up the largest share.
Observers warn that the growing normalization of anti-Muslim rhetoric in online spaces has real-world consequences, contributing to a climate of hostility against Spain’s 2.4 million Muslims.
Despite social media platforms’ claims of enforcing policies against hate speech, experts argue that their algorithms prioritize divisive content.
“They don’t want to take responsibility,” said sociologist Iago Moreno, who studies far-right digital media.
“Provocative content generates engagement, and as a result, hate-filled narratives spread unchecked.”
As far-right influencers continue to gain traction, their unchecked narratives risk deepening social divisions and further endangering Spain’s Muslim communities.
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