undercover operations
Covert intelligence work
Undercover operations are investigations in which law enforcement or intelligence officers conceal their identities to infiltrate criminal organizations, gather evidence, or expose illegal activity.
The term extends to corporate espionage and journalism: The reporter's undercover operation revealed unsafe working conditions at the factory.
Such operations raise ethical questions about deception and entrapment.
- espionageCovert intelligence gathering
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- exposure riskPotential for harm contact
- handlerOne who manages something
need to know · double agent · disguise · code-switching · evidence collection · dead drops · interrogation · blown · going dark · mole · legal repercussions · evidence gathering · legend · psychological stress · safe houses · informant · counterterrorism · black ops
- criminal investigationsinvestigations, crime scene, crime scenes, crime scene investigation, crime scene analysis
- national securityCIA, FBI, NSA, Pentagon, DHS
- smuggling enforcementcustoms agents, customs officers, border patrol, contraband, seizure
- human traffickinghuman trafficking, trafficking, traffickers, trafficking victims, victims
- Criminal Investigationdetective, crime scene, crime investigation, forensics, investigator
- wildlife conservationhabitat protection, game warden, species protection, wildlife officer, wildlife refuges
undercover operationsinvestigative journalism
In-depth reporting exposing wrongdoing
undercover operationspublic disclosure
Revealing information openly
whistleblowing · exposure · leaks · declassification · transparency initiatives
cover, under, operation, covert, undercover, operating, operative, operations, operational