ADA guide released in Romanian and English: AI and the manipulation of human perception

ProDefence has published the educational guide “Artificial Intelligence and the Manipulation of Human Perception” in both Romanian and English. The guide was developed under the ADA programme: Analyze, Decide, Act, initiated by ProDefence, and is free to read and download in PDF format.

Key points

• The guide explains how artificial intelligence can shape perception, beliefs and decisions.
• It covers algorithmic amplification, deepfakes, AI-driven persuasion and the psychological weaknesses these exploit.
• Each topic ends with practical protection and response measures.
• Both language versions are available below as free PDFs.

Why ADA was launched

Technology now evolves faster than society’s ability to assess risk, verify information and respond to digital threats. Manipulation is no longer limited to human persuasion: artificial intelligence adds scale, automation and precise targeting, amplifying influence operations, fraud, disinformation and social engineering, often faster than people and institutions can react.

ADA was created to close this gap by turning high-impact topics into clear guidance, realistic scenarios and practical prevention and response steps.

What the guide covers

• Algorithmic amplification and attention manipulation, which shape beliefs and behaviour.
• Synthetic media and deepfakes (video, image and voice) used for deception, reputational attacks and fraud.
• Persuasion and automation powered by language models, which make social engineering and narrative manipulation scalable.
• Behavioural and psychological vulnerabilities that modern digital channels can exploit.
• Practical protection measures: verification habits, decision discipline and what to do when manipulation is suspected.

The aim is not only awareness but resilience: helping readers recognise warning signs, reduce impulsive reactions and adopt safer digital routines.

Download the guide

Select a cover to open the PDF: the English edition on the left, the Romanian edition on the right.

Authors and partners

The guide was written by Mircea Constantin Șcheau and Alexandru Ciprian Angheluș.

Its development was supported by Cloud Security Alliance Romania, a chapter of the Cloud Security Alliance, and by specialists from the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), National Cyberint Center, the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the Romanian Police.

From publication to impact

ADA is a growing programme, not a single release. Through CyberAID and the CysEdu platform, ProDefence and its partners continue to add guides, simulations and courses on real-world risks: phishing and fraud, manipulation, AI-driven threats, incident response behaviour and digital safety for different audiences.

Institutions, educators, professionals and community organisations are invited to use the guide, share it responsibly and take part in the wider effort to strengthen societal resilience.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ADA guide free?

Yes. Both the English and the Romanian editions can be read and downloaded free of charge as PDF files.

Who is the guide for?

For the general public, educators, professionals and institutions that want to recognise and resist AI-enabled manipulation, deepfakes and social engineering.

What does ADA stand for?

Analyze, Decide, Act: the three steps the programme teaches for responding to digital manipulation and threats.