Man in Thailand Faces Potential 32-Year Imprisonment for Facebook 'Like' of King's Picture
Thailand's Lèse-majesté Law (Article 112 of the Criminal Code) is a contentious piece of legislation that criminalizes defaming, insulting, or threatening the King, Queen, heir-apparent, or Regent. The law carries prison terms ranging from 3 to 15 years per offense and has been used to target activists, political opponents, and critics, often with harsh enforcement, particularly since the 2014 military coup.
Since the coup, enforcement of the Lèse-majesté law has intensified significantly. At least 281 people have been charged with the offense since July 2020 alone, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. High-profile figures like former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have faced Lèse-majesté charges, risking maximum sentences of 15 years. Activists have received multiple sentences for speeches and protests, with one activist sentenced multiple times between 2020 and 2025 totaling over 9 years for royal defamation and related offenses.
The law's wording is considered vague and grants authorities broad discretion, leading to accusations of arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecutions. International bodies like the UN have called for amendments to align the law with human rights standards.
Recent legal developments have seen Thailand’s parliament debate five bills aimed at granting amnesty for politically related offenses. However, the finalized amnesty legislation as of August 2025 explicitly excludes Lèse-majesté, refusing to grant clemency or allow support for such amnesty. Amnesty International and other NGOs have criticized the exclusion, stressing the continued weaponization of the law against peaceful protesters.
The sentence for Lèse-majesté is handed down by Thai military courts. Record sentences have been handed down to regime critics, including a businessman who was imprisoned for 25 years and another man who was sentenced to 30 years for insulting the Thai monarchy on Facebook.
The EU has threatened sanctions against Facebook if it fails to better explain to consumers how their data is being used. However, these appeals are still tried at a military court. The Lèse-majesté law remains strict with severe penalties and broad enforcement, particularly since the 2014 coup, and continues to be a powerful tool to suppress dissent and criticism of the monarchy.
- The Lèse-majesté law, a contentious piece of legislation in Thailand, is not only used to target activists and critics, but it has also been employed in cases related to general news and crime and justice, such as the Facebook case involving a Thai citizen who was sentenced to 30 years for insulting the monarchy online.
- In addition to threatening international companies like Facebook with sanctions for data privacy issues, the EU is weighing in on the strict enforcement of Thailand's Lèse-majesté law, expressing concern over its broad application in areas such as politics and technology, where it continues to be used as a tool to suppress dissent and criticism of the monarchy.
