Laws of Lashon Hara / 9: 3-4 (71)

3. Avak lashon hara includes praising someone for an act of kindness that he’s done on his behalf, this may be in the area of food, drink or monetary, as this may cause harmful people to take advantage of him. Causing others to think that one has spoken lashon hara, is also considered avak lashon hara.

4. It is forbidden to live among people who habitually speak lashon hara and it is certainly forbidden to sit among them. If by chance one finds himself in the company of such people, he is obligated to rebuke them even if it might fail to stop the lashon hara, so long as it doesn’t cause them to increase their lashon hara.