Report Warning Issued: Even Indirect Defamation Remains Illegal Under Thai Law

[Yagoda]

So how does this effect a forum like this, where users regularly defame individuals in Thailand and Thailand itself? Should the rote Thai bashing be banned?

[harryviking]

On 5/21/2025 at 5:11 AM, JoePai said:

Only goes to show the Thai legal system is an ar$e

Agree! Nonsense as usual. Whats next.....🙄

[smedly]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Social media uproar! Lawyer James advises that using defamatory language, even without naming an individual, can still constitute defamation under the law.

anything here make sense ?, well if it does then I may as well just end it now, honestly this so called lawyer needs treatment

[thesetat]

I am somewhat confused how you can be sued for defamation calling a woman who sells sex for a living, a prostitute? That is the very meaning of the word. 

[black tabby12345]

Even lesser freedom of speech, under the Democratically Elected regime(than previous military govt).

 

[black tabby12345]

57 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

So how does this effect a forum like this, where users regularly defame individuals in Thailand and Thailand itself? Should the rote Thai bashing be banned?

 

Is this web space legally in Thailand?

Or it is from somewhere else?

If so, it isn't bound by Thai Laws though.

 

[soalbundy]

2 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

These are laws that need to be relaxed if this country can ever be a true Democracy.

What would change in a 'real democracy' (which doesn't exist anywhere). Would the homeless be housed, would American health care be affordable, would the NHS suddenly have no huge waiting times, would the wealthy suddenly have to pay tax, would the huge wealth disparity disappear, would child poverty be a thing of the past, would political promises made before an election have to kept? I don't think so. Thailand manages OK, it's a Goldilocks system, not too hot, not too cold, I prefer things here to the UK.

[lordgrinz]

22 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

What would change in a 'real democracy' (which doesn't exist anywhere). Would the homeless be housed, would American health care be affordable, would the NHS suddenly have no huge waiting times, would the wealthy suddenly have to pay tax, would the huge wealth disparity disappear, would child poverty be a thing of the past, would political promises made before an election have to kept? I don't think so. Thailand manages OK, it's a Goldilocks system, not too hot, not too cold, I prefer things here to the UK.

 

Your definition of a "real democracy" is anything but, you're describing something akin to a Utopia, it doesn't exist, it never will. 

[Lorry]

Try to use the word "prostitute" (in writing) or a Thai equivalent (when speaking) to the most hardened Thai prostitute and you will see that she considers it defamatory.

 

"I am not a prostitute" is ok.

"I am a freelancer" is ok, too.

*"I am a prostitute" is an ungrammatical sentence in Thinglish. You cannot combine the words "I" and "prostitute".

*"You are..." is defamatory and a criminal offence.

[Zapitapi]

17 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Nonsense. All that has happened is that the incitement to violence and the promotion of hatred has rightly been criminalised in some cases.

thats NOT nonsense.. 4000 ish went to jail actually..very similar in germany where a guy went to jail for 8 month for a meme posted online..the net is tightening in many countries..one should not dismiss that and live in a world that was 30 years ago

[Zapitapi]

11 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

 

Your definition of a "real democracy" is anything but, you're describing something akin to a Utopia, it doesn't exist, it never will. 

if you read the post the poster made it quite clear that it does not exist

[Yagoda]

1 hour ago, wensiensheng said:

Hmm, well it’s off topic but I can think of two recent well publicized cases where students were held in detention for doing just that.

Lie. You mean two farang on student visas? 

 

Here, you are in Thailand, go stand on a corner and scream about certain people, deportation would be the least of your worries.

 

Dont come into my house for a beer and then start screaming Im an arschole for not giving you Beer Lao

[Evil Penevil]

Thai laws on defamation are stricter than corresponding laws in Western countries.  Basically, a defendant in a Thai court can be found guilty of defamation if his statements, whether true or not, have injured the complainant's reputation or damaged his family's honor.   Unlike the U.S., the truth is not an absolute defense against defamation in Thailand.   It's the likely effect of the statement on the reputation of the complainant that counts in Thailand.

 

Legal experts agree it is easier for a complainant to file and win a defamation suit in Thailand than any other country in the world. That's why board rule 5 is so important:

5. Thailand-Specific Laws

As a website operating under Thai jurisdiction, we are obligated to comply with local laws, particularly those concerning defamation, respect for the monarchy, and illegal activities. Any content that violates these laws will be removed, and appropriate action will be taken to protect the platform and its members.

 

Outside of the particularly sensitive areas, the Thai judicial system has not shown itself very willing to get involved in cases where non-Thais writing in a foreign language may have defamed each other.  Posters on non-Thai boards need to be careful and stay aware of Thai defamation laws, but there's no reason to get paranoid.

[trainman34014]

They constantly talk of wanting to be the 'Hub' of this and the 'Hub' of that but they will never be the 'Hub' of anything worthwhile to themselves or The World until they stop all this nonsense and take criticism.    Being Cowards whilst hiding behind Draconian Laws ensures that Thailand will lag behind the majority of Free Speaking Countries for Decades to come !

[Your Uncle Bob]

So can we call them freelancers or business ladies without risk?

[edwinchester]

2 hours ago, Zapitapi said:

thats NOT nonsense.. 4000 ish went to jail actually..very similar in germany where a guy went to jail for 8 month for a meme posted online..the net is tightening in many countries..one should not dismiss that and live in a world that was 30 years ago

They didn't go to jail for defamation they went to jail for violent behaviour and inciting racial hatred amongst other serious crimes.

[Anthony mellows]

On 5/21/2025 at 3:29 PM, Magictoad said:

Here in the UK over 45 thousand people have been investigated and cautioned with on line offences under new laws  

introduced by the new Labour government. Many people have been put in prison. For tweets. Teams of police; 6 at a time storm into people's houses and confiscate their computers and phones. Only this week a court confirmed a very long sentence for a mother of a small child. The mother lost her appeal. Free speech is dead in the UK.

Is that the woman who wanted people to set fire to hotels with asylum seekers in them.

[TedG]

8 hours ago, gravity101 said:

Not if your media and talk bad about Trump. Suing in courts or Sending in the DOJ or the FCC against you. That's what they were angling at. 

The media talks bad about Trump all the time, do you ever watch cable news? 

[TedG]

6 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Hmm, well it’s off topic but I can think of two recent well publicized cases where students were held in detention for doing just that.

 

But back to Thailand….

Link?

[Dexxter]

On 5/21/2025 at 1:11 PM, JoePai said:

Only goes to show the Thai legal system is an ar$e

 

Be careful because saying that is probably defamatory.

[blaze master]

What a backwards country with stupid laws. 

 

Go ahead sue me i don't give a ffffff.