If I Know Information That Is Lashon Hara L’Toeles, Am I Obligated to Say It? 

Rav Baruch Meir Levin

Question: I want to avoid any problems and don’t want to say anything bad about anyone. If I happen to know some information that would constitute Lashon Hara l’toeles, do I have to say it? 

Answer: The Chofetz Chaim says that if you see someone getting involved in a situation – such as entering a partnership or making a shidduch – and you know about a problem that would be a benefit for that person to know about, not only is it permitted to relay that information, you actually are obligated to do so. He says that one who remains silent and does not help his friend by providing them with important information transgresses the prohibition of “lo sa’amod al dam reacha.”  

If someone is not certain that the information that he has is true, he cannot say it if it will hurt the one he is speaking about; however, he also certainly cannot advise his friend to go ahead with the partnership or shidduch. 

Question: Does that mean that I have to post negative reviews on Amazon?

Answer: If you know that someone is in danger of buying defective merchandise, you might be obligated to post this in a review. If it isn’t something that is really bad – for example, you believe that a certain restaurant’s food is not that good – you probably would not be obligated to post that. In general, it is only forbidden to remain silent if the information you know is a real problem.