A shopping mall in Shenzhen has gone viral after introducing bathroom stalls with windows that turn transparent when cigarette smoke is detected, a high-tech attempt to stop indoor smoking.
Restrooms at the Shuibei International Center and Shuibei Jinzuo mall are fitted with electrochromic glass panels that are normally opaque but instantly become see-through if smoke sensors are triggered. An alarm also sounds, publicly exposing anyone smoking inside.
Mall management says the system was installed after repeated complaints from customers and cleaning staff, as well as a near-fire incident caused by a discarded cigarette butt. Although indoor smoking is already banned under local regulations, enforcement proved difficult.
The measure has sparked intense debate on Chinese social media, with critics calling it intrusive. Legal experts warn the mall could face liability if the technology violates privacy protections by exposing people in a space where privacy is reasonably expected.