Warning about new misleading advertisements: misuse of the GOVSI podcast

27. 10. 2025

Government Communication Office

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia warns that misleading advertisements promoting questionable health products have once again appeared on Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. To give their product an appearance of legitimacy, the advertisers misused and manipulated a conversation with the renowned surgeon Dr Erik Brecelj, who recently appeared on the GOVSI podcast.

A photo of a phone screen showing Erik Brecelj, overlaid with a red prohibition symbol and the caption: "Warning! False post." — Author Government Communication Office

The topic of the podcast was healthcare reform, not the promotion of questionable health products.

The Facebook profile publishing the misleading advertisement is managed from Vietnam, as shown by the Facebook Ad Library. The website to which the advertisement directs users promotes a supposed "miracle cure" for eliminating parasites, Detoxil Water, while the company behind it claims to be based in the Seychelles.

Do not click on the links

All internet and social media users who encounter similar suspicious advertisements are advised to enter the advertiser's name into the search function of the Facebook Ad Library or Google and review the details there. Before doing so, do not click on the links provided in the advertisement and do not trust promises of miracle cures or other dubious products.

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 guidelines for recognising disinformation prepared by the Government may also be helpful.

What is disinformation?

The definition of disinformation, the key elements of disinformation, as well as the foreign manipulation of information and interference (FIMI), can all be found on the dedicated website. It also provides tips on how to identify disinformation and explains what a deepfake is.

Disinformation

GOVSI Podcast

The Government Podcast is designed to provide an in-depth presentation of government content and other topical and socially relevant issues. In addition to more direct contact with the public, it also provides a space for additional and in-depth explanation of government decisions, plans, policies or views.

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