An office complex in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, has drawn widespread attention after installing a smart restroom system that turns the toilet cubicle glass fully transparent when smoking is detected.
Reporters from SZTV News visited Shuibei International Center in the Luohu district on Monday (Dec. 15), where stalls with this special glass were found in a men's restroom on the basement level. Along with several cubicles being fitted with special glass panels, a warning sign was also visible, reading: "Smoking will make the glass transparent! Don't lose control and become an internet sensation!" The warming was accompanied by a cartoon "social death" emoji.
According to a mall notice, the intelligent smoke-control system automatically turns the cubicle glass transparent and triggers an alarm when smoke is detected. During on-site tests, reporters found that lighting a cigarette immediately activated the alarm.
The system is not limited to the Shuibei International Center. Reporters found it has also been installed at another office complex in the Luohu district. An operations director there said the upgraded system was launched in August and has proven effective in curbing smoking, earning broad recognition from tenants and the public.
The system uses commercially mature electrically switchable glass. When powered, liquid crystal molecules align to keep the glass opaque. Once smoke concentration exceeds a preset threshold, the power is cut, causing the glass to turn transparent within seconds to deter smoking by making the behavior publicly visible.
According to Yangcheng Evening News, the system has been praised online as a "high-tech anti-smoking solution", with calls for wider adoption, but it has also sparked privacy concerns. Critics warn that malfunctions or false alarms, such as those triggered by odors or steam, could expose users, despite the inherently private nature of restroom use.
Lu Weiguo, a lawyer in Guangdong, said restroom use falls within the scope of legally protected privacy and that operators could face civil liability if technical flaws expose non-smokers. While public smoking bans are clearly mandated, he added that enforcement must follow the principle of proportionality, warning that excessive or poorly controlled "transparency deterrents" could be legally problematic.
(Source: China Daily)
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