Clandestine acquisition of confidential information
For other uses, see Espionage (disambiguation).
"Spy" and "Secret agent" redirect here. For other uses, see Spy (disambiguation) and Secret agent (disambiguation).
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate.(February 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Criminal law
Elements
Actus reus
Mens rea
Causation
Concurrence
Scope of criminal liability
Accessory
Accomplice
Complicity
Corporate
Principal
Vicarious
Severity of offense
Felony (or Indictable offense)
Infraction (also called violation)
Misdemeanor (or Summary offense)
Inchoate offenses
Attempt
Conspiracy
Incitement
Solicitation
Offense against the person
Assassination
Assault
Battery
Child abuse
Criminal negligence
Defamation
Domestic violence
False imprisonment
Frameup
Harassment
Home invasion
Homicide
Human trafficking
Intimidation
Kidnapping
Menacing
Manslaughter (corporate)
Mayhem
Murder
felony
Negligent homicide
Robbery
Stalking
Torture
Sexual offenses
Adultery
Bigamy
Child sexual abuse
Cybersex trafficking
Fornication
Homosexuality
Incest
Indecent exposure
Masturbation
Obscenity
Prostitution
Rape
Sex trafficking
Sexual assault
Sexual slavery
Voyeurism
Crimes against property
Arson
Arms trafficking
Blackmail
Bribery
Burglary
Embezzlement
Extortion
False pretenses
Forgery
Fraud
Gambling
Intellectual property violation
Larceny
Looting
Payola
Pickpocketing
Possessing stolen property
Robbery
Smuggling
Tax evasion
Theft
Trespass to land
Vandalism, Mischief
Crimes against justice
Compounding
Malfeasance in office
Miscarriage of justice
Misprision
Obstruction
Perjury
Perverting the course of justice
Crimes against the public
Apostasy
Begging
Censorship violation
Dueling
Genocide
Hostage-taking
Illegal consumption (such as prohibition of drugs, alcohol, and smoking)
Miscegenation
Piracy
Regicide
Terrorism
Usurpation
War crimes
Crimes against animals
Cruelty to animals
Poaching
Wildlife smuggling
Bestiality
Crimes against the state
Lèse-majesté
Treason
Espionage
Secession
Sedition
Subversion
Defenses to liability
Actual innocence
Automatism
Consent
Defense of property
Diminished responsibility
Duress
Entrapment
Ignorantia juris non excusat
Infancy
Insanity
Justification
Mistake (of law)
Necessity
Provocation
Self-defense
Other common-law areas
Contracts
Defenses
Evidence
Property
Torts
Wills, trusts and estates
Portals
Law
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Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence). A person who commits espionage is called an espionage agent or spy.[1] Any individual or spy ring (a cooperating group of spies), in the service of a government, company, criminal organization, or independent operation, can commit espionage. The practice is clandestine, as it is by definition unwelcome. In some circumstances, it may be a legal tool of law enforcement and in others, it may be illegal and punishable by law.
Espionage is often part of an institutional effort by a government or commercial concern. However, the term tends to be associated with state spying on potential or actual enemies for military purposes. Spying involving corporations is known as industrial espionage.
One way to gather data and information about a targeted organization is by infiltrating its ranks. Spies can then return information such as the size and strength of enemy forces. They can also find dissidents within the organization and influence them to provide further information or to defect.[2] In times of crisis, spies steal technology and sabotage the enemy in various ways. Counterintelligence is the practice of thwarting enemy espionage and intelligence-gathering. Almost all sovereign states have strict laws concerning espionage, including those who practice espionage in other countries, and the penalties for being caught are often severe.
^"Espionage". MI5.
^Fischbacher-Smith, D., 2011. "The enemy has passed through the gate: Insider threats, the dark triad, and the challenges around security". Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 2(2), pp. 134–156.
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Global Information
