united-kingdom criminal-law
Is it illegal to mention the name of an illegal website in a message/email in the UK?
<p>Just out of curiosity: is it illegal to mention the name of an illegal website via a private messaging service on a website?</p>

<p>Assuming just the name of the website is mentioned and no links or any content is shared. </p>

<p>For example, lets say the only thing shared is the sentence </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Website xyz is illegal and contains illegal content".</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Would writing this sentence with the actual name of the website in place of "xyz" be illegal?  </p>

<p>In the US, barring a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gag_order#United_States" rel="nofollow">gag order</a>, the speech you describe is not illegal.</p>

<p>With Regards to UK Law:</p>

<p>It should be perfectly fine to make such a statement. It isn't a crime.</p>

<p>At civil law, the website might sue you for making a defamatory statement, but as long as the statement is true, then you are still permitted to make the statement, and even if the statement turns out to be false (that the website turned out to be legal), then the defence of reportage (now known as the defence of Publication on a Matter of Public Interest, <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26/section/4/enacted" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Defamation Act 2013 s.4</a>) would protect you, since you are arguably spreading information which is in the public interest.</p>
