With 384 million Internet users, China is home to the world’s largest online population. At the same time, the country’s netizens also face one of the toughest cyber censorship environments under what’s known as the “great firewall.”

So when a member of the Chinese regime’s legislative advisory body, Yan Qi said she would propose a nationwide ban on private Internet cafes, some netizens rebelled.

A restaurant owner from southwest Chonqing, Yan is one of the 2,374 delegates from across China handpicked to attend the annual plenary session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. During the session on Wednesday, Yan said “Many serious problems are linked to Internet cafes…” and “desperate diseases must have drastic cures, which is to ban them all,” according to State-run Global Times.

After her speech, the website of Yan’s restaurant chain has been paralyzed by Chinese hackers.

The serious problems Yan blames on Internet cafes include video game addiction, school truancy, and petty theft. She suggests that state-run cybercafés should be set up to address these social issues.

Yan’s remarks have started a debate over Internet cafes, and their effects on Chinese youths.

Critics say she has gone too far, and that banning all Internet cafes would be akin to arresting all Chinese communist officials because many of them are corrupt. Others say the social problems linked to Internet cafes should be addressed by parents.