If you find info on the internet I would think that it is public information, even if it has not been announced by the company. One example of that is the GSA contract which was announced by the GSA and posted on their site one month before the company even announced it. Many government activities are by law made public in timely fashion.

As to speaking with someone who states something, if that discussion is made public on a chat board then it is public information. Trading the stock before posting it on the chat board might be considered a "no, no". All my opinions, but that is how I see it.