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.

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.