Espionage is the act or practice of secretly obtaining confidential or secret information, typically for political, military, or economic purposes, often by governments or organizations using spies or covert agents. It involves gathering intelligence that is not openly accessible, usually through illegal or clandestine means
. Key points about espionage include:
- It is commonly associated with state spying on enemies to gain military or political advantage, but can also involve corporate espionage, where companies steal trade secrets from competitors
- Espionage is distinct from other intelligence-gathering methods like satellite imagery or codebreaking, as it usually involves direct human interaction or infiltration to access secret information
- The person who commits espionage is called a spy or espionage agent, who operates covertly to collect and relay information to their government or organization
- Espionage is often illegal and punishable by law, with severe penalties in many countries. For example, the United States has laws such as the Espionage Act of 1917 that criminalize spying activities
- Techniques of espionage include eavesdropping, infiltration, surveillance, use of double agents, and increasingly, technological methods like concealed listening devices
In summary, espionage is the secret, often illegal, activity of spying to obtain sensitive information for strategic advantage, primarily conducted by governments but also by corporations or other entities
