Harsh Penalties Chill Online Speech

This provision establishes mandatory minimum sentences of 3-10 years imprisonment for cybercrimes, including offenses defined in 36 such as "creating false information" or "posting false information." The 3-year mandatory minimum removes judicial discretion to consider whether speech was mistaken versus malicious, opinion versus fact, or satire versus defamation. Combined with vague offense definitions, these severe penalties will chill legitimate online expression—journalists, whistleblowers, political critics, and ordinary citizens face potential imprisonment for speech that would be protected or subject only to civil remedies in most democracies. The mandatory minimum prevents proportionate sentencing and exceeds international norms for speech-related offenses.