Laws are changing very fast. Indian Supreme Court said in a 2013 ruling that time has come to held Editor responsible for every item published.
And in the same year, in a US Court it was argued that the Fact that the offending material was Deleted from website at earliest or as soon as it was noticed, is a relevant and mitigating circumstances in trials of offences of online publication.
The online publications are quick and fast.
There is a need and an urge to publish news/article within seconds.
Sometimes, passwords are shared with columnist/authors and they can publish material on Editor's website directly.
Then all that an editor can do is to remove the offending material as soon as it comes to its notice.
There is No Law that before deleting an article an editor had to ask author.
The Deletion is as fast as posting of an article.
In print publications laws are different because "Deleting An Article after publishing" is not possible. There, all that an editor can do is to publish an apology next day. And there is ample time to seek author's view before publishing apology.
The laws in this area are changing very fast.
Haresh Raichura
12/07/14
