At Social-Engineer, we define elicitation as the act of obtaining information without directly asking for it.

The National Security Agency has a nice definition of elicitation on their website. You can read it here. Basically, elicitation is the process of extracting information from something or someone.

Additionally, you can read Merriam-Webster’s definition here.

And, thanks to Peter, a researcher from the Center for Usability Research & Engineering, we have these additional links to the topic of elicitation:

• The CIA’s Secret Manual on Coercive Questioning
• KUBARK Interrogation Manual Transcript
• The 5 Doors of Manipulation (in German) in 2002

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