The Ethics of Spying

Spying is a complex ethical issue that demands careful examination and not the elimination of moral considerations. It is suggested that spying should be constrained by both legal and moral rules, given its significant implications for fundamental rights and freedoms. The notion that important operations require less regulation is challenged, emphasizing instead that the higher the stakes, the stricter the rules should be. The discussion compares the expectations placed on spies to the stringent laws related to killing and warfare, asserting that ethical considerations should remain paramount.