A shopping mall in southern China has gone viral after introducing an unusual high-tech method to stop people from smoking in its bathrooms — by making toilet stall windows turn transparent the moment cigarette smoke is detected.
The system has been installed in restrooms at Shuibei International Center and Shuibei Jinzuo Building, two shopping complexes in Shenzhen’s Luohu District. The malls recently unveiled the technology after receiving repeated complaints about people secretly smoking inside toilet cubicles.
The bathroom doors are fitted with electrochromic glass panels, which are normally opaque and milky white. However, when built-in sensors detect cigarette smoke, the glass quickly becomes transparent. An alarm also sounds, instantly exposing anyone caught smoking inside.
According to Zhao Li, director of operations at Shuibei Jinzuo, the move was prompted by serious hygiene and safety concerns. He told Shenzhen TV that staff had been dealing with smoking complaints on a daily basis, and in one case, a discarded cigarette butt nearly caused a fire.
“We previously handled numerous smoking complaints every day,” Zhao said. “The smoke seriously affected hygiene, and there was even a dangerous incident where a cigarette butt almost ignited a trash bin.”
Smoking is strictly banned in indoor public places under Shenzhen’s Smoking Control Regulations, yet some shoppers continued to ignore the rules and light cigarettes inside bathrooms. Mall management said traditional deterrents such as warning signs and fines had little effect, pushing them to take stronger action.
The initiative quickly sparked debate on Chinese social media. While many users praised the idea as an effective way to deal with an ongoing problem, others raised concerns about privacy.
Legal experts have also weighed in. Speaking to Yangcheng Evening News, lawyer Lu Weiguo from Guangdong Gehou Law Firm pointed out that China’s Civil Code protects individuals’ right to privacy. He warned that if the glass malfunctions and exposes someone unexpectedly, the shopping centres could face legal responsibility.
To reduce that risk, mall staff said the smoke sensors are carefully calibrated to respond only to cigarette smoke. They also plan to install a reset button near the doors in case the system is accidentally triggered.
Despite the controversy, many online commenters welcomed the move, calling it long overdue. Some even suggested the technology should be rolled out nationwide to deal with smoking in public toilets.
The cost of installing the system has not been disclosed, but the malls say early feedback from shoppers and store owners has been largely positive.
