The Persuasion Protocol | What you see online is meant specifically for you.

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Disclaimer: Keep in mind that tools like Ground News rely heavily on English-language, Western media sources. When they show you a 'Blindspot,' it’s usually a blindspot within the Western political conversation. For my viewers in Russia, Asia, or the Global South: these tools might feel less relevant to your local reality, or biased toward US/European narratives. Use them as a part of your media diet, not the whole thing. ______ The Persuasion Protocol is a short documentary that exposes the hidden mechanics of digital influence, from microtargeting and algorithmic amplification to bot networks, astroturfing, and AI-driven manipulation. Through visual explanations and real case studies, it reveals how information systems shape perception while strengthening media literacy and critical awareness among young adults. ___________________________________ 0:00 - Introduction 1:11 Section 1 - The Invisible Hand 4:33 Section 2 - Comment wars & fake armies 6:23 Section 3 - The Algorithmic Amplifier 8:02 Section 4 - Case study snapshots 15:45 Section 5 - What you can do ___________________________________ This is a student project that was developed during the Bachelors at FH Hagenberg. Video Sources: Cambridge Analytica, Data Privacy & Elections The Guardian: Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: 'We spent $1m harvesting million...' https://youtu.be/FXdYSQ6nu-M The Verge: Facebook's Cambridge Analytica data scandal, explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDR8qGmyEQg Channel 4 News: Cambridge Analytica Uncovered: Secret filming reveals election tricks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpbeOCKZFfQ FRONTLINE PBS: Trump's Road to the White House (full documentary) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwXKl0odq8 Channels TV Nigeria: Calvin Dark - Cambridge Analytica & Elections https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLcOEBcNkT4 CNN (Kenya Digital Archives): Did Cambridge Analytica Impact Kenya's Election (2017)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2VKusWOJFE Channel 4 News: Cambridge Analytica: Whistleblower reveals data grab of 50 million https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb6-xz-geH4 Brexit Al Jazeera English: Will Brexit mean early exit for Boris Johnson? | Inside Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rccn2_CwK_U France (Macron Leaks) TRT World: French Presidential Election: Hacked Macron documents released https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5hai50UCEw FRANCE 24 English: France Presidential Election: What are the #MacronLeaks? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6I_eCqWacU Myanmar (Rohingya Crisis & Facebook) Vox: The “ethnic cleansing” of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04axDDRVy_o VICE News: Myanmar’s Rohingya Genocide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnHizRC6S8U Johnny Harris: How Facebook Became a Tool for Genocide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8B0bWO9u3M ___ Here are the non-YouTube sources from the chat history, organized by topic: GDPR & EU Regulation Enforcement Tracker: List and overview of fines and penalties under the EU General Data Protection Regulation. https://www.enforcementtracker.com/?insights European Data Protection Board (EDPB): Opinion on AI models and GDPR principles. https://www.edpb.europa.eu/news/news/2024/edpb-opinion-ai-models-gdpr-principles-support-responsible-ai_en Italy & OpenAI Fines Silicon UK: Italy Fines OpenAI 15m Euros Over Data Collection. https://www.silicon.co.uk/e-regulation/italy-fine-openai-593931#:~:text=Italy’s%20data%20protection%20regulator%2C%20the%20Garante%2C%20has%20fined,collection%20of%20personal%20data%20by%20the%20ChatGPT%20developer. Reuters: Italy fines OpenAI 15 million euros over privacy rules breach. https://www.reuters.com/technology/italy-fines-openai-15-million-euros-over-privacy-rules-breach-2024-12-20/ HÄRTING Rechtsanwälte: Data protection complaints about the use of ChatGPT in Italy and Switzerland. https://haerting.de/en/insights/datenschutzrechtliche-beanstandungen-zum-einsatz-von-chatgpt-in-italien-und-der-schweiz/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Austria (Government Report) Austrian Parliament: Generative AI and Democracy Final Report 2025 (Generative KI und Demokratie Endbericht). https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/fachinfos/zukunftsthemen/Generative_KI_und_Demokratie_Endbericht_2025.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com AI & Personalization Forbes: How AI Can Turn Data Into Meaningful Customer Experiences. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescommunicationscouncil/2025/06/09/turning-data-into-meaningful-customer-experiences-ais-role-in-personalization/ ___________________________________ The Persuasion Protocol ist ein kurzer Dokumentarfilm, der die verborgenen Mechanismen digitaler Beeinflussung sichtbar macht, von Microtargeting und algorithmischer Verstärkung bis zu Botnetzwerken, Astroturfing und KI-gestützter Manipulation. Anhand visueller Erklärungen und realer Fallbeispiele zeigt er, wie Informationssysteme Wahrnehmung formen und stärkt bei jungen Erwachsenen Medienkompetenz und kritisches Bewusstsein.