Espionage

Espionage‏‎

Espionage or, casually, spying involves a spy ring, government and company/firm or individual obtaining information considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information.[1] Espionage is inherently clandestine, as it is taken for granted that it is unwelcome and in many cases illegal and punishable by law. It is a subset of "intelligence gathering", which otherwise may be conducted from public sources and using perfectly legal and ethical means. It is crucial to distinguish espionage from "intelligence" gathering, as the latter does not necessarily involve espionage, but often collates open-source information.

Espionage is often part of an institutional effort by a government or commercial concern. However, the term is generally associated with state spying on potential or actual enemies primarily for military purposes. Spying involving corporations is known as industrial espionage.

One of the most effective ways to gather data and information about the enemy (or potential enemy) is by infiltrating the enemy's ranks. This is the job of the spy (espionage agent). Spies can bring back all sorts of information concerning the size and strength of enemy forces. They can also find dissidents within the enemy's forces and influence them to defect. In times of crisis, spies can also be used to steal technology and to sabotage the enemy in various ways. Counterintelligence operatives can feed false information to enemy spies, protecting important domestic secrets, and preventing attempts at subversion. Nearly every country has very strict laws concerning espionage, and the penalty for being caught is often severe. However, the benefits that can be gained through espionage are generally great enough that most governments and many large corporations make use of it to varying degrees.

Union Law
Espionage - against the Union

The act of gathering data / information with the intent to provide this data to a hostile / non friendly entity is considered an act of high treason and a Class 1 felony. This includes acts that make protected technology accessible to such entities. The act of accessing such data and information for anyone else but the authorized entities, including press, family members, friends etc. willfuly or not is a Class 2 felony.

Espionage - from Union sources within the Union

against Union citizens is unlawful. No Union entity may conduct surveilance or gather data of any kind. Unless so ordered by a Union court. Such intelligence may only be gathered by official law enforcement agencies in order to prevent or solve crmes. Any information gathered that does not pertain to the surveilance warrant granted can not be used, stored or otherwise kept.

Espionage - From the Union against Non Union entities

Such inteligence gathering is deemed vital to the existence and security of the Union and its citizens. Intelligence agencies are therefore and by Assembly decission authorized to use all means neccesary to gather such inteligence.