Is it considered an aveirah
(lifnie ivar, masie ldvar averiah) if one posts a link to a website that contains loshon hara on it? If the link only directs one to a page on the site that is not loshon hara, does one have to be concerned that someone will go through the other pages on the site and see loshon hara?
Related, is it also considered lifnie ivar if one posts a comment to a website that already has comments on it with loshon hara? By doing so it will be more likely to come up in a Google search and then someone may read the other comments there that are loshon hara? Also, are you doing an aveirah by supporting a site that tries to take out loshon hara but accidentally, sometimes fails. Since going on the site makes it more popular, thus in the long one supporting it (bec. the advertisers will want to put their ads on it) is that considered aiding a sinner?
Answer:
The Internet is crammed with Lashon Hara, and it is a person’s choice to read it or not (the heter of apei telasa will sometimes apply, but this is not the current issue).
In general, one should not send a link to lashon hara, because this involves “spreading” the lashon hara, which is forbidden if there is no positive purposes involved (even if the lashon hara is already known, it remains forbidden to spread it maliciously).
One does not, however, have to go to the extremes you suggest, such as refraining from linking to a site that has Lashon Hara elsewhere. As noted, the Internet is full of this, and a person chooses where to go and where not to.
Best wishes.
