By: Gašper Blažič
This time it was not a cyberattack, much less cosmic rain, but rather the opposition SDS. That is how the Freedom Movement responded to the publication of audio recordings in which Vesna Vuković appeared as the central figure, the former secretary-general of what is now the largest ruling party, and previously a journalist who first worked for Dnevnik, then Siol, and later Necenzurirano.
Journalist and founder of the portal Požareport, Bojan Požar, has already commented that anyone who knows Vesna Vuković even a little knows that these recordings are authentic. Certain speech patterns and characteristics simply cannot be artificially recreated.
As is known, mainstream media remain silent about the affair or report on it only briefly and selectively. The police, who should immediately investigate any suspicion of criminal activity revealed in wiretaps, apparently “have no time,” as was already evident when we asked the police and the prosecution whether they had even checked lawyer Sebastjan Kerčmar, who was allegedly being blackmailed by Aleksander Repić. We received no answer. People close to those in power are apparently left undisturbed.
The reaction of the ruling Freedom Movement was entirely expected. They claim the recordings are AI‑manipulated audio of private conversations involving current and former party officials. The Government Secretariat also told STA that “alleged illegal wiretaps, apparently altered using artificial intelligence,” are circulating in public. They added that the government’s secretary-general was not involved in any conversation resembling the content mentioned in the recordings.
They argue that the timing of the release is no coincidence. As they pointed out, the recordings were published at the conclusion of the parliamentary inquiry commission led by Tamara Vonta and just before the completion of work on the second rail track project. They believe the recordings aim to cast doubt on the sincerity of the commission’s work and, in the second case, to divert attention from the achievements of the government led by Freedom Movement president Robert Golob, and to artificially create a scandal that would discredit the work of Minister Alenka Bratušek as well as the entire government. At the same time, the Freedom Movement points the finger at the largest opposition party, SDS, whose campaign, in their view, has devolved into “spreading manipulation, defending criminal acts, distributing alleged illegal wiretaps, and launching unfounded and false attacks on the government.” According to them, the events of recent months also show a clear pattern of escalating pressure and provocations.
At the same time, they warn that the threats and manipulations are not directed only at the party, but also at the country’s major media outlets, which, they say, is SDS leader Janez Janša’s way of reminding everyone “what kind of politics awaits Slovenia if he were to return to power.” They insist they will not allow this. “No vile or dirty campaign will deter us from continuing to work for the good of the people and a better Slovenia,” they concluded in today’s response. Some media outlets did not publish the content of the recordings at all, only the Freedom Movement’s reaction. Everything is clear.
The matter has also been reported to the competent institutions. The police confirmed for STA that they are verifying the authenticity of the recordings. They are also checking whether there are grounds to suspect that a criminal offence prosecutable ex officio has been committed. They cannot provide more information due to the protection of the ongoing procedure, they said. But even that alone sends a strong message. In other words, they are looking for the culprit who made all this public, similar to the case of Aleksander Repić and the “cyberattack.” Apparently, SOVA is also dealing with the task of protecting the dignity of those in power, despite having already “messed up” during preparations for the military operation in Iran, which left more than a thousand Slovenians stranded at airports across the Middle East, unprepared for the situation.
The Freedom Movement may try to convince the public that the whole thing is an opposition conspiracy and that the recordings are fake. But experts disagree. Niko Gamulin published his analysis on X. He wrote: “I am not a court-certified digital forensics expert. But I analysed the Vuković–Vonta recording anyway. Spectral analysis: 99.9% of energy below 1,609 Hz. Telephone quality. AI systems generate wideband audio up to 8–16 kHz. The recording does not have the spectral profile of synthetic speech. Mains frequency (50 Hz harmonics): present. SNR 6.2× at 200 Hz. This means the recording was made in a room with electrical wiring. AI does not generate this. Variability of pauses in speech: coefficient of variation 1.47. Natural speech. AI‑synthesised speech typically has a CV below 0.5. Repetitive patterns (copy‑paste editing): 0. None of the forensic indicators support the claim that the recordings were ‘processed with artificial intelligence.’ I am not a court expert. But neither is the Freedom Movement. The difference: I analysed the recording. They issued a press release.”
A little later, he published an even more detailed analysis.
Among other things, he also reminded readers of the reactions of those involved: “On 9 March 2026, the Freedom Movement claimed the recordings were ‘processed with artificial intelligence.’ The Government Secretariat spoke of ‘alleged illegal wiretaps, apparently altered using artificial intelligence.’ The Infrastructure Ministry spoke of ‘forged and false content.’
None of these statements was supported by anything. No forensic report. No identification of any specific sign of AI processing. No independent analysis. Not even an indication of which part of the recording was supposedly synthetic. This is comparable to a situation in which a defendant in court says: ‘The evidence is fake’ – and the judge replies: ‘Alright.’ Without expert opinion. Without counter‑analysis. Without explanation.”
To sum up: given how, in recent years, the Freedom Movement monitored phones internally due to a lack of mutual trust, it is not impossible that they secretly recorded their own secretary‑general at the time. Themselves. More likely, however, a “whistleblower”, or rather, a repentant insider, saw what was happening. Which supports the thesis that Vesna Vuković’s manner of speaking simply cannot be “imitated” by artificial intelligence.
Jan Macarol wrote the following on Facebook:
“Wiretaps or the Butale ‘Deepfake’ Opera… WATCH OUT… I am looking at these wiretap recordings and listening to the excuses about ‘artificial intelligence,’ and I cannot decide whether to laugh or cry.
For AI to create such a level of authentic vulgarity, raspy voice, and that specific tavern‑style slang, they would have to soak the processors in Silicon Valley in cheap šmarnica wine for three days.
Here is the harsh truth about our ‘deepfake’ politicians:
/ The technology is not there yet: As someone who tests these things every day, I can tell you – cloning a voice is easy, but cloning a Slovenian curse word that comes straight from the heart of a corrupt genius is practically impossible. The raw punch and flavour of the word ‘prasica’ simply cannot be reproduced by AI.
/ Too realistic to be fake: AI would make politicians sound too polished and proper. Our originals are so uniquely incompetent and crude that any attempt at simulation would be a pale shadow of their natural ‘charisma.’
Butale logic: When you are caught with your hand in the cookie jar (or your voice on tape), the easiest thing to say is that a computer did it. But let’s be honest, Golob and his team cannot even add 1+1, let alone understand voice‑generation algorithms.
The irony? Our politicians are already ‘fake’ by default. Their faces are masks, their promises simulations, and their intelligence… well, even the lowest‑IQ AI would struggle to reproduce it without frying its motherboard.
Are the recordings real? Of course they are. No code in the world can so convincingly simulate that authentic Slovenian pathology, stealing from your own people while laughing in their faces.
This is not a technological revolution. It is the reality of Slovenia.”