Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, author of Chofetz Chayim, used to say that some people are mistaken about his book on loshon hora.

“It’s not a book against speaking,” the Chofetz Chayim would say.  “On the contrary.  The book gives one permission to speak.  Before you know the laws, how can you speak?  You might be violating a Torah prohibition.  Once you have studied the laws, however, you know what is permissible to say.” ~ R’ Shmuel Pliskin in Der Choftez Chayim as quoted by R’ Zelig Pliskin.