Mole (espionage) facts for kids

A mole is a special kind of spy who works secretly inside an organization for a very long time. They are sometimes called 'deep cover agents' or 'sleepers'.

Unlike other spies, a mole is often recruited before they even have access to secret information. They might join a company or government group, and only much later, when they are trusted and have important access, do they start their spying activities.

The word 'mole' became popular because of a British spy novelist named John le Carré. He used the term in his famous 1974 book, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

What is a Mole?

Imagine someone who pretends to be a regular employee in a company or a government office. This person is secretly working for another group, like a different country's government or a police department. That's what a mole does. They are like a secret agent who burrows deep inside an organization, just like a mole animal burrows underground.

The main idea behind a mole is that they stay hidden for a very long time. They build trust and become a normal part of the place they are spying on. This makes it very hard for anyone to suspect them.

Moles in Real Life

In the world of police work, a mole is an undercover officer. This officer joins a group, sometimes a criminal organization, to gather important information. Their goal is to collect evidence that can help bring the group's activities to an end. They work secretly to understand how the group operates and who is involved.

Governments also use moles. These spies might work for years to get into a high-level position in another country's government or a rival organization. Once they are in, they can share secret information back to their own country. This kind of spying is often about national security or important political secrets.

Spies in Stories

The term "mole" became widely known because of John le Carré. He was a British novelist who wrote many spy stories. His 1974 book, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, featured a hunt for a mole inside the British secret service. This book made the idea of a deep-cover spy very popular in books and movies.

Le Carré's stories often showed the complex and sometimes difficult lives of spies. He helped people understand that spying isn't always about action and gadgets. Sometimes, it's about patience, secrecy, and living a double life for many years.