Munich Oktoberfest ride operator hands out free shorts to block upskirting

Women and girls taking a turn on one of Munich Oktoberfest's oldest rides are being handed free cycling shorts by its operator to protect them from voyeurs filming up their skirts.

Elisabeth Polaczy, the 80-year-old operator of the Teufelsrad, or Devil's Wheel, has distributed more than 100 pairs of shorts at this year's festival. The move follows revelations that at least 32,000 videos of women on the spinning attraction have circulated online, attracting millions of views.

What is happening at the Teufelsrad?

The Teufelsrad is a fast-spinning circular platform where riders try to sit or lie down for as long as possible before being flung off. The rapid motion frequently causes traditional dirndl dresses and skirts to fly up.

An investigation by Bavarian broadcaster BR revealed that a network of professional YouTubers from Ukraine and several Bavarian residents have been filming these moments and uploading them. Some of the images were digitally altered to make the women look naked, and one clip reportedly earned its creator €9,000.

Polaczy, who has been buying and handing out the shorts for three years, told the BBC that the effort is costly but necessary.

"I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure," she said.

While warning signs in German and English hang inside the tent, Polaczy said it is impossible to monitor every spectator with a smartphone. The threat has also prompted some festival waitresses to wear cycling shorts under their dirndls.

How big is the upskirting problem?

The scale of the illicit filming has shocked festival-goers. According to research by the Munich daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, more than 32,000 videos linked to the Teufelsrad were found on Meta platforms alone.

Bavarian police have run poster campaigns against upskirting at the Oktoberfest since 2025. Officers arrested a 45-year-old Swiss man at this year's festival for using his phone to film under a German woman's dirndl. Police made 10 arrests for upskirting at the festival in 2025, and seven in 2024.

What does the law say?

Germany criminalised upskirting in 2020, making the offence punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison. However, victims' advocates argue that the current legal framework is inadequate.

Josephine Ballon, head of the digital rights non-profit Hate Aid, told the BBC that the law "applies only when you film under the skirt". This means it does not cover situations where a skirt flies up naturally during a ride and someone photographs what is already visible. Ballon also warned that new technology, such as camera glasses, makes the practice harder to detect. She has called for penalties both for those who upload intimate images and the platforms that host them.

In a bid to curb exploitative content, Munich authorities have tightened rules for digital creators at Oktoberfest. The city has banned live streaming from the festival grounds and now requires influencers to purchase a commercial filming permit.