What is a double agent?

A double agent is an individual who spies for two opposing sides, often providing false or manipulated information to one to benefit the other. For example, a person might spy for the United States while secretly working for Russia. In this role, double agents are used to feed misinformation to the enemy. There are different types of double agents: an "unwitting" double agent unknowingly passes false data, while a "witting" one does so intentionally after being turned by the counterintelligence agency. This convoluted nature means the true allegiance of a double agent can become obscured over time, sometimes leading to scenarios where even history cannot determine their ultimate loyalty 1.