Its sensitivity makes it necessary for us to protect it but also makes it attractive to spies. Classified information is kept secret in the first place because its disclosure might harm national security, jeopardise the country's economic well-being or damage international relations. In fact, it often helps us to build good relationships with other nations.Д®spionage focuses on gathering non-public information through covert means. This type of work is not harmful to our national interests. Foreign representatives thereby help their governments to shape their foreign, commercial and military policies. This enables them to monitor political, economic and military developments in their host country and brief their own governments. They use open sources such as the media, conferences, diplomatic events and trade fairs, and through open contact with host government representatives. The gathering of publicly available information is a routine activity of diplomatic staff, military attachГ©s and trade delegations.

lt may also involve seeking to influence decision-makers and opinion-formers to benefit the interests of a foreign power. This is not the same as espionage.Д®spionage is the process of obtaining information that is not normally publicly available, using human sources (agents) or technical means (like hacking into computer systems). Most governments rely on a range of information being gathered to guide their decisions. Espionage against UK interests still continues and is potentially very damaging. The threat of espionage (spying) did not end with the collapse of Soviet communism in the early 1990s.

Espionage meaning