At the heart of Munich’s 190th Oktoberfest, the Teufelsrad – a spinning wooden wheel that invites riders to test their balance – has become the centre of a new privacy crisis. Up to 32,000 videos of women spinning out in traditional dirndls have circulated online, with some clips generating thousands of euros for the creators.
The criminal offence of upskirting in Germany carries up to two years in jail, but law‑enforcement analysts argue it only covers deliberate filming beneath a skirt, not instances where a skirt simply flaps up. “The law does not cover the accidental exposure that often happens on rides like the Teufelsrad,” says Josephine Ballon of the non‑profit Hate Aid.
In the face of mounting online abuse, 80‑year‑old operator Elisabeth Polaczy began handing out free cycling shorts to women and girls. Polaczy explains that the shorts act as a barrier against hidden cameras and give riders a sense of security. “I don’t want anyone to feel unsafe in their own clothes,” she says.
The initiative has drawn a mixed response. Influencers and content creators argue that the practice stifles creative freedom, while victims and privacy advocates see it as a practical step toward a safer festival atmosphere. Police in Munich have issued a new poster campaign warning that upskirting is a crime and have begun licensing all live‑streaming activity at the event.
In addition to the action by the ride operator, some staff at the festival have started wearing short-sleeved undergarment layers under their dirndls. Meanwhile, a 45‑year‑old Swiss man was recently arrested for filming under a German woman’s skirt, showing that the law is being enforced, albeit irregularly.
The debates surrounding the Teufelsrad highlight broader issues in Germany and beyond: the balance between freedom of expression and protection from sexual violence, the responsibility of event organisers to safeguard participants, and the evolving role of technology in both perpetrating and preventing harassment. As Oktoberfest continues, the conversations about privacy in public spaces are set to deepen.
