Espionage can be illegal and punishable by law in some circumstances.
Notes on verification
Well-corroborated by multiple legal sources (Cornell Law, federal statutes, Wikipedia) confirming espionage is illegal and punishable, including severe penalties like life imprisonment or death in the US. [tier=silver indep_score=0.833 clusters=3 claim_tier=everyday]
Sources
- Espionage (wikipedia)
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/espionage (corroboration)
- https://www.egattorneys.com/federal-espionage-crimes (corroboration)
- https://www.federalcharges.com/espionage-laws-charges/ (corroboration)