The unauthorized acquisition or dissemination by an employee of confidential data is known as:

The unauthorized acquisition or dissemination of confidential data by an employee is best described as industrial espionage. This term specifically refers to the act of stealing trade secrets or proprietary information from a business or organization for commercial advantage. It often involves internal actors misusing their access to confidential information.

Industrial espionage is distinct from embezzlement, which involves the misappropriation of funds or property for personal gain, typically by someone in a position of trust. Larceny refers to the unlawful taking of someone else's property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, which does not capture the nuances of data theft. Burglary involves entering a building with the intent to commit a crime, which is more focused on physical entry rather than the acquisition or dissemination of data. Thus, the correct term that encompasses the unauthorized handling of confidential information in this context is indeed industrial espionage.