Espionage droids of the Empire represented specialized droids within the Imperial forces, produced by Cybot Galactica. Engineered to both resemble and operate as typical protocol droids, these units were marketed to individuals who were subjects of scrutiny. Equipped with unique transmitters, they facilitated the transmission of crucial data back to Imperial Intelligence divisions.
A well-known instance of an espionage droid involves the RA-7 protocol droid from Arakyd Industries serving on the first Death Star.
In the year 3 ABY, the protocol droid K-3PX, stationed on Gamandar, provided direct reports to Darth Vader concerning the activities of Admiral Griggor Tower, who had recently initiated a devastating assault on the world of Iskalon. Subsequently, K-3PX commanded a squad of stormtroopers to the detention area where the Admiral was questioning Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca, relieving Tower of his position and placing him in custody. The stormtroopers followed K-3PX's commands immediately and without doubt.