Chinese mall fights bathroom smokers with instant see-through windows

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A shopping mall in Shenzhen, China is using a clever high-tech solution to stop people from smoking in the restrooms: the stall windows turn transparent whenever cigarette smoke is detected. This innovative approach is quickly gaining attention online.

A new system at a Shenzhen mall is causing a stir online after it was revealed that the mall is using technology to publicly discourage smoking in its restrooms.

Some restrooms in the Shuibei International Center and Shuibei Jinzuo mall in Luohu District have unique rectangular windows made with glass that can change from transparent to opaque.

These panels usually appear solid white, but they turn clear when they sense smoke. To add to that, an alarm goes off, making it obvious who is smoking.

This mall’s anti-smoking tech embarrasses smokers in seconds

According to Zhao Li, Shuibei Junzuo’s operations director, the company implemented this strict policy because of concerns raised by customers and employees. He mentioned a specific instance where a discarded cigarette butt nearly started a fire as an example of the potential risks.

We used to get a lot of complaints about smoking every day. Our cleaning crew often said the strong smell of smoke made it hard to keep things clean, and once, a cigarette almost started a fire in a trash can, he explained.

Even though Shenzhen has rules against smoking indoors, people were still lighting up in the shopping center’s restrooms. This led the center to ban smoking there completely to prevent potential fires.

The issue has caused a strong reaction online in China, and many people are saying the new rule goes too far in collecting personal information.

Legal professionals have also offered their opinions on this issue. Lu Weiguo, from the Guangdong Gehou Law Firm, told the Yangcheng Evening News that China’s Civil Code protects people’s right to privacy. The code specifically states that no one – whether an organization or an individual – can violate this right by intruding on someone’s private life, harassing them, or publicly revealing private information.

He cautioned that the mall might face legal responsibility if their new technology designed to prevent smoking accidentally reveals private information or images of someone, violating their reasonable expectation of privacy.

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2026-01-01 23:50