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US Academic Released on Bail in Thai Royal Defamation Case

Paul Chambers, charged under Thailand's lese-majeste law, plans to appeal his visa revocation after being freed on bail.

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The seal of the United States Department of State is seen in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn inspects a guard of honour during the "Trooping the Colour" parade by the Thai Royal Guards and oath-giving ceremony to mark his 72nd birthday celebrations at the Dusit Palace in Bangkok on December 3, 2024. The ceremony is the first "Trooping the Colour" and associated oath-giving in 16 years and the first of such ceremonies to be held during the reign of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn. (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Overview

  • Paul Chambers, an American academic, was arrested on April 8, 2025, in Thailand under lese-majeste and computer crime charges related to a 2024 webinar invitation.
  • He was denied bail initially but was released on April 9 after posting 300,000 baht (approximately $8,800) bail while awaiting trial.
  • Chambers denies the charges, claiming he neither authored nor published the content in question and plans to appeal the revocation of his visa by Thai authorities.
  • The U.S. State Department expressed alarm over the arrest, emphasizing concerns about Thailand's use of lese-majeste laws to suppress free expression.
  • The case has drawn international attention, with human rights groups warning about its implications for academic freedom and free speech in Thailand.