Publication: The Chilling Effect of SLAPPs on Academic Freedom of University Lecturers in Thailand
13
2
Issued Date
2025
Resource Type
Resource Version
Accepted Manuscript
Language
eng
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
2697-3804 (online)
Journal Title
Journal of Human Rights and Peace Studies
Volume
11
Issue
1
Start Page
20
End Page
51
Access Rights
open access
Rights
ผลงานนี้เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของมหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล ขอสงวนไว้สำหรับเพื่อการศึกษาเท่านั้น ต้องอ้างอิงแหล่งที่มา ห้ามดัดแปลงเนื้อหา และห้ามนำไปใช้เพื่อการค้า
Rights Holder(s)
Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Human Rights and Peace Studies. Vol.11, No.1 (Jan-Jun 2025), 20-51
Suggested Citation
Chomkate Ngamkaiwan The Chilling Effect of SLAPPs on Academic Freedom of University Lecturers in Thailand. Journal of Human Rights and Peace Studies. Vol.11, No.1 (Jan-Jun 2025), 20-51. 51. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/110289
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
The Chilling Effect of SLAPPs on Academic Freedom of University Lecturers in Thailand
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Abstract
The increasing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Thailand, particularly after the 2014 military coup, presents a significant threat to academic freedom. This study investigates the chilling effect of SLAPPs on the academic freedom of university lecturers in Thailand, focusing on how these legal actions—often disguised as defamation charges or violations of the Computer Crime Act and Thailand’s Criminal Code—are used to suppress critical academic discourse. Through documentary research and case study analysis, this study identifies key impacts on dimensions of academic freedom, including academic expression, financial impact, and institutional autonomy. The findings also highlight that SLAPPs, despite their frequent failure in court, create legal burdens that lead to a chilling effect that stifles intellectual inquiry, fosters self-censorship, and threatens the autonomy of higher education institutions. This study argues that existing legal protections are insufficient to prevent the abuse of SLAPPs and calls for the introduction of comprehensive anti-SLAPP laws. It proposes legal reforms to expedite the resolution of SLAPP cases, minimize the financial burden on victims, and impose significant penalties on those who file meritless lawsuits.