Public restrooms across China now feature facial recognition dispensers that require users to watch short ads before receiving a strip of toilet paper. The system was initially designed to prevent waste — some visitors were taking excessive paper — but advertisers quickly saw an opportunity. Now, users stand before a small screen, watch a 5–10 second commercial, and are then issued a limited amount of tissue. It’s part of China’s growing trend of “smart public spaces”, where AI and sensors track usage patterns to cut costs and improve efficiency. However, it’s sparked debates over privacy, dignity, and commercial intrusion — especially in such personal moments. Still, the concept represents how digital advertising and automation are merging even in the most unexpected corners of daily life, redefining what “public service” means in the 21st century.