When the iconic Teufelsrad – the Devil’s Wheel – spins faster each minute at Munich’s Oktoberfest, skirts can lift, creating a perfect storm for illicit filming. In response, the ride’s 80‑year‑old operator, Elisabeth Polaczy, has taken a hands‑on approach: she distributes free cycling shorts to women and girls in traditional dirndls, hoping to shield them from upskirting.

Why the shorts matter

Over the past three years, Polaczy reports handing out more than 100 pairs of shorts this season alone. She says, "I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure," emphasizing personal safety over cost. The measure targets a specific problem: at least 32,000 videos of women on the Teufelsrad have circulated online, some garnering millions of views, and a single clip reportedly earned a woman €9,000.

Legal backdrop

German law already classifies upskirting as a crime, punishable by up to two years in prison. Yet activists argue the statutes are too narrow. Josephine Ballon, head of the non‑profit Hate Aid, notes that current legislation applies only when a camera is deliberately angled under a skirt, not when a skirt unintentionally lifts and is captured. She calls for broader accountability, including penalties for platforms that host such content.

Police response and enforcement

Since 2025, Bavarian police have run a poster campaign warning that "upskirting is a crime." Recent enforcement includes the arrest of a 45‑year‑old Swiss man for filming under a woman’s dirndl, adding to 10 arrests in 2023 and seven in 2024. These actions underscore a growing intolerance for voyeuristic behavior, though officials admit monitoring every smartphone is impossible.

Broader festival measures

Munich has also tightened rules for influencers and live‑streamers. The city now requires a paid permit for any broadcast from the festival, and hundreds of licences have been issued this year. This policy aims to curb monetised content that could encourage invasive filming.

Community reactions

Beyond Polaczy’s initiative, some waitresses have begun wearing cycling shorts beneath their dirndls, indicating a grassroots uptake of the protective strategy. While the shorts do not eliminate the risk of upskirting, they add a physical barrier that can deter opportunistic filming.

Uncertainty

Assessing the true impact of the shorts remains challenging. No official data yet quantifies a reduction in recorded upskirting incidents, and the effectiveness of police posters versus physical deterrents is still debated. Moreover, the upcoming legal reforms promised by lawmakers have not been detailed, leaving the scope of future protections unclear.

What’s next?

Stakeholders agree that a multi‑layered approach—combining legal reform, public awareness, and practical safeguards like Polaczy’s shorts—offers the best chance to protect women at large public events. As the Oktoberfest concludes, the conversation about digital privacy and bodily autonomy is likely to continue well beyond the beer tents.