Oktoberfest Battles Upskirting: Free Shorts & Tougher Laws for Festival-goers!

Munich, Germany, The iconic Oktoberfest, known for its festive beer halls and thrilling rides, is confronting a troubling issue: voyeuristic "upskirting" videos. To combat this, the operator of the popular Teufelsrad, or Devil's Wheel, ride has been proactively distributing free cycling shorts to women to help protect them from unwanted filming.

The Teufelsrad, one of Oktoberfest's oldest attractions, features a circular platform that spins rapidly, often causing skirts to fly up. This innocent effect has, unfortunately, been exploited by individuals filming and sharing voyeuristic content online. Reports indicate that at least 32,000 such videos have circulated, with some garnering millions of views.

Shockingly, some images are digitally manipulated to make women appear naked, and one individual reportedly earned thousands of euros from a single clip.

Elisabeth Polaczy, the 80-year-old operator of the Teufelsrad, has taken a stand.

For the past three years, she has been handing out free cycling shorts to women and girls wearing dresses, aiming to make them feel secure. This Oktoberfest alone, she's distributed over 100 pairs, emphasizing that while it's an expense, it's worth her peace of mind.

Her tent also displays clear warnings from the police in multiple languages against filming under skirts.

While filming under skirts is illegal in Germany, carrying a potential two-year jail sentence, critics argue the current law doesn't go far enough. Josephine Ballon from Hate Aid, an organization supporting victims of digital violence, points out that the law currently only applies if filming under a skirt, not simply when a skirt flies up naturally.

There are calls for stronger legislation that would punish anyone uploading intimate pictures and hold platforms accountable.

Bavarian police have also stepped up efforts, running poster campaigns since 2025 to declare "upskirting is a crime." This year, a 45-year-old Swiss man was arrested for filming under a woman's dirndl. There were 10 arrests last year and seven in 2024 for similar offenses.

Beyond protecting privacy, the city of Munich is also tightening rules for content creators.

Influencers and anyone wishing to film at Oktoberfest now require a permit, issued for a fee, and live streaming from the festival is banned. These measures underscore a collective effort to ensure Oktoberfest remains a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

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