This is regardless of who publishes the message so long as it is being done by someone sending or receiving the message.
How would one publish the message without receiving it?
I can see dumping an entire PM chain to defend oneself - I don't think a person would be guilty of a moral crime.
Consider another example that happened to me - a user took a link I sent him in the middle of a conversation, stripped out all context, made me look like a pervert, then innocently asked "Vod, can you provide us some context? "
Post all of the thread - or at least all of an atomic post - or post nothing. If you pick and choose words, that should be considered malicious.
So @peloso and @kzv - if you believe Lauda's actions deserve red trust, consider what that user did to me. :/
Edit... this is a good quote showing malicious intent.
Explain why you sent me the below quote, or admit you enjoy looking at pictures of underage boys you fifty plus year old sick fuck.