German authorities are tightening laws against upskirting after thousands of women were filmed without consent on the Teufelsrad carousel during the Oktoberfest in Munich. The 117-year-old attraction, known as the Devil’s Wheel, spins participants on a large platform until they fall off, causing skirts to lift and exposing women’s undergarments to hidden cameras and social media recorders.
Teufelsrad Carousel Filming Prompts German Legal Reform
The Bavarian tradition drew intense scrutiny during the 16-day festival after approximately 32,000 videos of the ride circulated across social media platforms like TikTok, Meta, and Google, according to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. Many of these recordings explicitly targeted women’s undergarments as high speeds lifted their clothing. Bavarian broadcaster BR reported that the filming carried strong financial motivations, with content creators generating advertising revenues, selling subscriptions, and directing traffic through external links. One individual reportedly earned 9,000 euros—equivalent to roughly 97,000 Norwegian kroner—from a single video.
Major technology companies including Google, Meta, and TikTok have since removed the illicit footage and associated accounts. The Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to the newspaper Welt that 19 investigations tied to Oktoberfest upskirting incidents were recorded between 2024 and 2025, though these specific cases were not exclusively linked to the Teufelsrad. While some of these investigations resulted in fines, others were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Local law enforcement has maintained an active presence, arresting a 45-year-old Swiss man during the latest festival for filming beneath a woman’s skirt, following ten arrests the previous year and seven arrests in 2024.
Protective Measures and Free Bicycle Shorts at Oktoberfest
Ride operators and festival workers have taken direct steps to combat the unauthorized recording. Elisabeth Polaczy, who operates the Teufelsrad attraction, told the BBC that she has distributed free bicycle shorts to female visitors wearing dresses and skirts over the past three years. Polaczy handed out more than 100 pairs of shorts during the recent festival season. “I want to do everything I can to make people feel safe,” she stated to the BBC. Female waitstaff working at the festival grounds also reported wearing bicycle shorts beneath their traditional dresses for protection, while public address announcements continually warned attendees against filming under skirts.
The German government criminalized upskirting in 2021, making the unauthorized recording, sharing, or distribution of images taken beneath clothing punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison. Building on these existing statutes, the German Federal Ministry of Justice informed BR that current legislative proposals aim to broaden the law. The updated framework would penalize unauthorized sexualized images and videos of clothed body parts, alongside the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes utilizing artificial intelligence to manipulate faces or body parts.
Stricter Influencer Rules and Enforcement in Munich
Alongside federal legislative changes, the city of Munich implemented stricter regulations targeting social media influencers and content creators seeking to monetize festival coverage. The BBC reported that live-streaming from Oktoberfest is now prohibited, and creators wishing to film on site must obtain explicit permits from municipal authorities. These local restrictions sit alongside the federal government’s broader legislative package, which remains under active review within the cabinet.
Questions About the Oktoberfest Filming Incidents
What is the Teufelsrad at Oktoberfest?
The Teufelsrad, or Devil’s Wheel, is a 117-year-old traditional amusement ride in Munich where participants sit on a large, spinning wooden platform until centrifugal force throws them off.
What legal penalties apply to upskirting in Germany?
Under German law established in 2021, filming beneath clothing without consent and sharing those images is illegal and carries penalties of a fine or up to two years in prison.
How much money did creators make from the unauthorized videos?
Bavarian broadcaster BR reported that some creators monetized the footage through ad revenue and subscriptions, with one individual earning 9,000 euros from a single video.
How are ride operators protecting visitors?
Teufelsrad operator Elisabeth Polaczy distributed more than 100 pairs of free bicycle shorts to female visitors wearing skirts, while venue loudspeakers broadcasted warnings against filming.
What new laws are German authorities considering?
The Federal Ministry of Justice is advancing a legislative proposal to expand privacy protections, criminalizing non-consensual sexualized deepfakes and the covert filming of clothed body parts.
The proposed legislative expansion remains under review within the federal cabinet.
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