united-states oregon
Is it legal to publish a guide on how to do something that&#39;s normally a crime?
<p>This is a follow-up to <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/81814/could-there-be-consequences-for-googling-how-to-do-something-that-is-normally-a">my question about Googling how to do something that's normally a crime</a>.</p>
<p>Breaking into a car is usually illegal, but there are cases where it is legal (and in some countries mandatory, but that's not relevant here). The two I know of are breaking into someone else's car to <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/81811/is-it-legal-to-break-into-a-locked-car-to-get-a-child-out-in-hot-weather">rescue a child or domestic animal in hot weather</a> or breaking into your own car for any reason or no reason (as long as it's paid off and you don't try to make an insurance claim, of course).</p>
<p>Since there are cases where it is legal to break into a car, is it legal to publish a guide on how to break into a car online? Does it need to have a disclaimer saying to comply with all applicable laws?</p>
<p>Could the author be held responsible if someone uses the instructions to illegally break into a car?</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Since there are cases where it is legal to break into a car, is it
legal to publish a guide on how to break into a car online?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is legal to publish this guide. Indeed, it is legal to do so even if there are no cases where it is legal to do so.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Does it need to have a disclaimer saying to comply with all applicable
laws?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Could the author be held responsible if someone uses the instructions
to illegally break into a car?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Generally not. I could imagine that there might be some very specific and exceptional fact pattern where it might, but that would be the rare exception.</p>
<p>But see <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/09/us/florida-man-isis.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">man sentenced to twenty-years in prison</a> after pledging support to ISIS and uploading a bomb making video related to that pledge.</p>
