Women in Munich Oktoberfest given free shorts to prevent upskirting
The operator of the Teufelsrad ride at Munich's Oktoberfest is providing free cycling shorts to female riders to prevent voyeuristic filming. This measure follows reports of thousands of videos capturing women's underwear as they are thrown from the spinning platform, with some clips being monetized online.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of physical public spaces and digital exploitation, raising questions about the adequacy of current laws regarding non-consensual filming and digital violence.
A popular ride at Munich's Oktoberfest has become the centre of a growing controversy over voyeuristic videos, with its operator handing out free cycling shorts to women to help protect them from being filmed under their skirts.The Teufelsrad, or Devil's Wheel, is one of the oldest attractions at the annual beer festival. Its large circular platform spins at increasing speeds, eventually throwing riders off. The movement can cause skirts and dresses to fly up, making people on the ride vulnerable to being filmed from below.Thousands of videos showing women on the attraction have appeared online, with some reportedly attracting millions of views. German broadcaster BR reported that one woman earned €9,000 from a single clip.Thousands of videos circulating onlineAt least 32,000 videos featuring women on the Teufelsrad have been circulated, according to Munich daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.
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