noun A person who is employed to encourage others to break the law in order to incite prosecution
An agent provocateur is a person employed by law enforcement agencies to act undercover and provoke others to commit illegal acts, in order to arrest them.
In the field of political science, an agent provocateur is someone who infiltrates a group or organization to incite actions that may discredit or undermine the group's goals.
In the realm of cybersecurity, an agent provocateur may be used to infiltrate networks or online communities to provoke malicious activities for the purpose of identifying vulnerabilities or gathering intelligence.
Agent provocateurs can be present in social movements to disrupt or discredit the movement's goals by instigating violence or illegal actions.
Within intelligence operations, an agent provocateur may be utilized to manipulate or instigate actions within a targeted group or organization for the purpose of gathering information or disrupting activities.
In counterterrorism efforts, an agent provocateur may be used to identify and neutralize potential threats by inciting individuals or groups to reveal their intentions or engage in illegal activities.
In criminal investigations, an agent provocateur may be employed to gather evidence or elicit confessions by inciting criminal behavior from suspects.
In literature, an agent provocateur is often used as a character who incites conflict or stirs up trouble within a story to drive the plot forward.
Psychologists may use the term agent provocateur to describe a person who intentionally triggers certain behaviors or reactions in a social or experimental setting for research purposes.
Law enforcement officers may use agent provocateurs in undercover operations to provoke criminal activity or gather intelligence on potential threats.
Political scientists may study the use of agent provocateurs in political movements or protests to understand how outside influences can impact the dynamics of social movements.