Espionage
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Espionage refers to the act of gathering information, generally using subversive means. A person who engages in espionage is called a spy.
The word Espionage comes from the French word espionage, meaning literally "to spy". However, it was the Americans and Russians who made the most historical use of espionage, during the Cold War. Other countries who have used espionage include Israel,[1] Germany during World War II, and Great Britain. Espionage is much less common today, except for industrial espionage, which is what happens when one company spies on another one. However, it has been reported[2] that Al Qaeda has planted spies in U.S. organizations, as well.
Famous spies include Mata Hari and Alger Hiss.