In brief
During this year’s 16‑day Oktoberfest in Munich, the operator of the Teufelsrad has begun distributing free cycling shorts to women riding in traditional dirndls to help keep them from being filmed from below. The move comes after thousands of viral videos showing women’s underwear emerged after the ride’s rapid spin, with some creators earning thousands of euros. While German law punishes voyeuristic filming, critics say it does not cover accidental exposure through fast‑moving skirts. The shift coincides with a new police poster campaign warning against upskirting and stricter permits for live streaming at the festival.
In Munich’s 16‑day Oktoberfest, the operator of the Teufelsrad – the iconic Devil’s Wheel – started handing out free cycling shorts to women who ride in dirndls, so they can avoid being filmed from below.
The initiative follows a surge in online footage capturing the frenetic spin of the ride, which has left many women’s underwear exposed on popular social‑media platforms. Some clips have generated up to €9,000 for creators, sparking a national conversation about digital sexual exploitation.
In Germany, filming under skirts is illegal and can lead to a two‑year jail term, but experts argue current laws fail to protect against accidental upskirting caused by rapid movement. Recent investigations revealed that over 32,000 videos featuring women on the Teufelsrad were circulating, with millions of views collectively.
The Teufelsrad’s operator, 80‑year‑old Elisabeth Polaczy, said she has given out more than 100 pairs of cycling shorts this festival season. “I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure,” she told reporters.
Police in Munich have introduced a poster campaign warning against upskirting and now require anyone who wishes to live‑stream at the festival to obtain a permit. Since 2025, the city has banned live broadcasts from the grounds without a license, issuing licences for influencers who contribute to the event’s commercial revenue.
The human‑rights organisation Hate Aid’s head, Josephine Ballon, urged stronger enforcement and harsher penalties for those who share intimate footage online, stating that the law only covers direct filming under skirts and not inadvertent exposure.
The policing approach coincides with a broader debate about the adequacy of Germany’s privacy laws in the age of selfie‑culture and emerging camera technology.
