In brief
A 80‑year‑old operator on the Devil's Wheel at Munich’s Oktoberfest has begun giving out free cycling shorts to women and girls to protect them from upskirting videos filmed in the crowd. The move follows a surge in viral clips that have earned thousands of euros for a single post and highlighted gaps in German law. Police have arrested people who film under skirts, but there are still loopholes, prompting calls for stronger legislation and new camera‑blocking technology. The festival now also bans live‑streaming and requires permits for influencers filming on site.
At the 190th Oktoberfest in Munich, a gentle‑spinning wheel known as the Devil’s (Teufelsrad) can quickly turn a festival photo into a viral video. A 45‑year‑old Swiss man caught filming under a dirndl this year is just one of the latest arrests in a series that shows how easy it is to upload intimate footage that may spread for months.
In response, the ride operator, 80‑year‑old Elisabeth Polaczy, has handed out free cycling shorts to women and girls at the fair. The goal? To give a quick barrier under a flowing skirt, so cheap‑cost cameras can’t produce the chilling images that made the clips go viral.
Polaczy says she gave away more than 100 pairs this year. 'I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure,' she told the BBC, noting that the police posters and tech help do just a bit of what people want.
The new camera‑blocking glasses that pop up on Instagram have part‑makers saying they want to ban the "upskirting" hashtag. They also want video‑distributors who host posted footage to pay.
Local officials have taken a stricter stance. This year, Munich banned livestreaming from the fair, and applicants must obtain a filming permit for any on‑site production.
