In the intelligence world, a true double agent is loyal to one side before being “turned” and transferring loyalties to the other side. What is a Double Agent?Ī double agent is essentially someone who works for two sides. (You’ll find agents in other parts of government as well, but that’s a different use of the term: FBI agents and special agents, for example, work in law enforcement.

They trust their handler (a professional intelligence officer) to protect them. They may be recruited through money, ideology, coercion, greed, or for another reason, such as love (human beings are complicated). What is an Agent?Īn agent is another word for a spy: someone who volunteers or is recruited to pass secrets to an intelligence agency, sometimes taking risks to spy on their own country. Of course, the term “spy” also is used much more broadly, often to refer to anyone or anything connected to “spy agencies” (from intelligence analysts to hidden cameras), or any activity done secretly (spy missions, use of malicious computer software). For this reason, a government minister might make a great spy-but so might the janitor or a cafeteria worker in a government ministry.ĭiscover some fascinating spies in our Spies & Spymasters exhibit, such as Morten Storm, who volunteered to spy against Al Qaeda celebrated dancer Mata Hari, who spied for the French during WWI and Mosab Hassan Yousef, a spy for Israeli intelligence. From an intelligence perspective, their most important quality is having access to valuable information. Instead, a spy either volunteers or is recruited to help steal information, motivated by ideology, patriotism, money, or by a host of other reasons, from blackmail to love.

Also called an agent or asset, a spy is not a professional intelligence officer, and doesn’t usually receive formal training (though may be taught basic tradecraft). In the intelligence world, a spy is strictly defined as someone used to steal secrets for an intelligence organization.

What is a spy agent