EXOD832 All that we have discussed until now applies even if the information one relates about another person is true. However, if one says lashon hara or rechilus that includes some false information, he also transgresses the Torah’s commandment of מִדְּבַר־שֶׁ֖קֶר תִּרְחָ֑ק, “You shall distance yourself from falsehood” (Shemos 23:7). In addition, his name becomes tarnished because of what he said, for now he will be labeled a motzi shem ra (slanderer), for which the punishment is far more severe than the punishment for speaking ordinary lashon hara and rechilus.