In brief
During the 190th Oktoberfest, the operator of the Teufelsrad attraction began distributing free cycling shorts to women riding in dirndl dresses, a measure aimed at curbing the spread of upskirting videos. The videos, which capture skirts lifting on the spinning ride, have attracted millions of views and legal scrutiny, as filming under a skirt is punishable by up to two years in prison. While the operator claims the short giveaway helps protect riders, police officials highlight enforcement challenges and have increased permits and arrests for unlicensed filming. Digital‑privacy advocates argue current laws fall short and call for tougher penalties against those who post intimate footage. The situation underscores the tension between cultural tradition, digital media, and women’s safety in public events.
An operator of a popular attraction at Munich's Oktoberfest, the Teufelsrad, has begun handing out free cycling shorts to women who ride in traditional dirndl dresses. The move follows the rise of viral videos in which the skirts of female riders fly up, exposing undergarments and sometimes being altered digitally for shock value.
In Germany, filming under a skirt is illegal and can carry a two‑year prison sentence. Critics contend the law falls short when skirts simply lift and the image is captured without intentional filming. Recent investigations identified professional YouTubers from Ukraine and Bavarian groups as culprits behind thousands of such videos.
The operator, 80‑year‑old Elisabeth Polaczy, has been distributing more than 100 pairs of shorts this year. “I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure,” she said. While the Teufelsrad tent displays signs warning against upskirting, the operator stresses the sheer volume of smartphones makes it impossible to monitor every camera.
Police responses have intensified. A Swiss man was recently arrested for filming under a German woman’s dirndl, adding to last year's count of ten arrests. Munich authorities now require a permit and fee for influencers who wish to film or livestream from the festival, and have issued hundreds of licences to such content creators.
Advocates for digital safety argue that current legislation still leaves gaps and that those who upload intimate footage should face penalties alongside the platforms that host it. New legislation is reportedly in the works, but the main debate remains how best to protect women's privacy in public gatherings.
