Additional details about misleading advertisements on Facebook
The company Meta Platforms maintains a publicly accessible record of all advertisements published on its platforms. A review of advertisements in Meta Ad Library, which can be checked by any user, showed that similar campaigns involving the misuse of images and the spread of disinformation occur almost continuously, and that other public figures are frequently misused in this manner. The library allows users to verify which Facebook profile or page publishes and pays for an advertisement. We established that the Facebook pages that paid for the questionable advertisements are practically without content, containing only a few generic photographs.
The false advertisements featuring the Prime Minister were published and paid for by the pages News 24 (in Slovenian) (several profiles with the same name) and Find out the news. Moreover, it turned out that there are an extremely large number of similar pages with identical or similar names. All of them follow the same pattern: they contain only a few generic photographs, no other posts or information, describe themselves as media companies, and mostly have no followers.
The pages to which the advertisement links led (Techfusionnow.today, publicspeakingproguide.com, astroarbor.digital) are now inaccessible or contain no content. Moreover, the tool/website the Wayback Machine of the Internet Archive does not contain any snapshot of the mentioned websites that reveal any content from which it could be inferred who stands behind them.
Ana Praznik abused again
The advertisements were removed following reports, but some details (in Slovenian) can still be found in the Facebook Ad Library (more details).
Misleading advertisements featuring Ana Praznik in the lead role are currently active. They led to a website imitating the website of Slovenske novice, containing an interview with Ana Praznik. The page has since been removed; the web address now leads to a non-functioning online textile shop instead of the interview.
The article and the interview claimed that "people are shocked because the Government has ordered the arrest of Ana Praznik. She is accused of revealing information that could harm the country's economy. The star is currently under house arrest and journalists have no access to her". At the end, instructions followed on how to join this "incredible business opportunity".
Ana Praznik's image has already been misused several times to spread disinformation and persuade people to take part in various suspicious business opportunities. For this reason, she shared her story and advice with us (in Slovenian) during Cybersecurity Awareness Month as part of the reREAD, reTHINK, RECHECK campaign in October 2024.
Crypto fraudsters misuse the Chancellor's name
We also learned that a similar campaign took place in Austria in December, where the image of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer was misused (in German). Local media there attributed the campaign to crypto fraudsters.
The data collected so far indicate that the campaigns mentioned in Slovenia were also created with the aim of encouraging the purchase of cryptocurrencies or promoting other financial instruments, or likely scams. The spread of disinformation served merely as a way to attract attention, and thus as clickbait. Nevertheless, such websites are harmful and could also pose a threat from the perspective of spreading disinformation.
Do not share false or misleading content
The Government calls on all social media users to exercise caution: do not trust or share content that appears false or misleading. Before sharing a post, verify its credibility and ask yourself whether it could be true. Likewise, do not fall for promises of high and easy earnings.
The Government has also prepared guidelines and advice to help recognise false news.