One of the most damaging instances of criminal espionage in U.S. Sometimes a foreign power is successful in procuring U.S. Other nations do the same, seeking to recruit CIA agents or others who will betray sensitive information. The CIA also attempts to recruit foreign agents to work on behalf of U.S. The CIA protects national security interests by spying on foreign governments. § 402 et seq.) to conduct covert activity. espionage is the CIA, created by the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.A. Many of these activities remain secret in order to protect national interests and reputations. Attachés have worked toward the subversion of governments, the destabilization of economies, and the assassination of declared enemies. These 'attachés' collect intelligence secrets about the armed forces of their host country. Since the late nineteenth century, nations have allowed each other to station so-called military attachés in their overseas embassies. However, espionage blunders can receive national attention, jeopardizing the security of the nation and the lives of individuals.Įspionage is unlikely to disappear.

The general public never hears of espionage activities that are carried out correctly. This gathering of intelligence benefited competing nations that wished to stay one step ahead of each other. Through much of the twentieth century, international agreements implicitly accepted espionage as a natural political activity. government secrets to other nations.ĭespite its illegal status, espionage is commonplace.

Criminal espionage involves betraying U.S. Federal law prohibits espionage when it jeopardizes the national defense or benefits a foreign nation (18 U.S.C.A. In the United States, the organization that heads most activities dedicated to espionage is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).Įspionage, commonly known as spying, is the practice of secretly gathering information about a foreign government or a competing industry, with the purpose of placing one's own government or corporation at some strategic or financial advantage.

It can involve the analysis of diplomatic reports, publications, statistics, and broadcasts, as well as spying, a clandestine activity carried out by an individual or individuals working under secret identity to gather classified information on behalf of another entity or nation. The act of securing information of a military or political nature that a competing nation holds secret.

Economic espionage definition