Editing Espionage (section)

== Methods and terminology ==

=== How the United States defines espionage ===
Although the news media may speak of "spy satellites" and the like, espionage is not a synonym for all intelligence-gathering disciplines. It is a specific form of human source intelligence ([[Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)|HUMINT]]). Codebreaking ([[cryptanalysis]] or [[Signals intelligence#Communications intelligence|COMINT]]), aircraft or satellite photography ([[Imagery intelligence|IMINT]]), and analysis of publicly available data sources ([[Open-source intelligence|OSINT]]) are all intelligence gathering disciplines, but none of them is considered espionage. Many HUMINT activities, such as prisoner [[interrogation]], reports from military [[reconnaissance]] patrols and from diplomats, etc., are not considered espionage. Espionage is the disclosure of sensitive information (classified) to people who are not cleared for that information or access to that sensitive information.

Unlike other forms of [[List of intelligence gathering disciplines|intelligence collection disciplines]], espionage usually involves accessing the place where the desired information is stored or accessing the people who know the information and will divulge it through some kind of [[Deception|subterfuge]]. There are exceptions to physical meetings, such as the [[Oslo Report]], or the insistence of [[Robert Hanssen]] in never meeting the people who bought his information.

The US defines espionage towards itself as "the act of obtaining, delivering, transmitting, communicating, or receiving information about the national defence with an intent, or reason to believe, that the information may be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation". ''[[Black's Law Dictionary]]'' (1990) defines espionage as: "...&nbsp;gathering, transmitting, or losing&nbsp;... information related to the [[defense (military)|national defense]]". Espionage is a violation of United States law, {{UnitedStatesCode|18|792|798}} and Article 106a of the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|last=US Department of Defense |author-link=U.S. Department of Defense |title=Joint Publication 1-02 Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms |date=2007-07-12 |url=http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |access-date=2007-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108082044/http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf |archive-date=2009-11-08 }}</ref> The United States, like most nations, conducts espionage against other nations, under the control of the [[National Clandestine Service]].{{Update|reason=What about the Defense Department, and the Director of National Intelligence?|date=December 2021}} Britain's espionage activities are controlled by the [[Secret Intelligence Service]].

=== Technology and techniques ===
{{See also|Tradecraft|List of intelligence gathering disciplines}}
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* [[Agent handling]]
* [[Biographic leverage]]
* [[Concealment device]]
* [[Covert agent]]
* [[Covert listening device]]
* [[Cut-out (espionage)|Cut-out]]
* [[Cyber spying]]
* [[Dead drop]]
* [[False flag]] operations
* [[Front organisation]]
* [[Human intelligence]] (HUMINT)
* [[Sexpionage|Honeypot]]
* [[Impersonator|Impersonation]]
* [[Impostor]]
* [[Interrogation]]
* [[Non-official cover]]
* [[Numbers station|Numbers messaging]]
* [[Official cover]]
* [[Open-source intelligence]] (OSINT)
* [[One-way voice link]]
* [[Sabotage]]
* [[Safe house]]
* [[Side channel attack]]
* [[Signals intelligence]] (SIGINT)
* [[Spy ship]]
* [[Steganography]]
* [[Surveillance]]
* [[Surveillance aircraft]]
* [[Surveillance balloon]]
{{div col end}}

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