Toilet stall windows in a Shenzhen shopping complex become see-through if cigarette smoke is detected in a high-tech method of deterring indoor smoking that’s going viral online.
Chinese social media is alight with debate after a mall in Shenzhen debuted its new anti-smoking technology that aims to embarrass patrons who light up a cigarette inside its bathrooms.
Certain restrooms within the Shuibei International Center and Shuibei Jinzuo mall in Luohu District are equipped with special rectangular windows that contain electrochromic glass panels.
These panels, normally completely opaque with a milky-white hue, become transparent if their built-in sensors detect smoke. If that isn’t embarrassing enough, an alarm will also sound off, exposing any would-be smokers in the middle of their cigarette break.
This mall’s anti-smoking tech embarrasses smokers in seconds
Shuibei Junzuo’s director of operations, Zhao Li, spoke with local news outlet Shenzhen TV, explaining that this drastic measure was taken due to complaints from both patrons and staff. He even cited an incident where a leftover cigarette butt almost caused a fire.
“We previously handled numerous smoking complaints daily. Cleaning staff consistently reported strong smoke odors severely affecting hygiene, and there was even a hazardous incident where a cigarette butt nearly ignited a trash bin,” he said.
Despite Shenzhen Smoking Control Regulations prohibiting indoor smoking, that didn’t stop shoppers from lighting one up while they used the bathroom, prompting the shopping center to take direct action to prohibit any potential fire hazards in these areas of their facility.
The situation has sparked a fierce debate on Chinese social media platforms, with news outlets reporting that some users feel this particular measure is too invasive.
Even legal experts have weighed in on the matter. Speaking to the Yangcheng Evening News, Guangdong Gehou Law Firm’s Lu Weiguo explained a stipulation in China’s Civil Code, which states that “natural persons enjoy the right to privacy, and no organization or individual may infringe upon others’ privacy rights through intrusion, harassment, disclosure, or public exposure.”
He warned that the mall could be held liable if their new anti-smoking tech ends up indecently exposing someone who is under a reasonable expectation of privacy.
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