Disturbing Oktoberfest trend sees women handed free cycling shorts after videos rack up millions of views

Disturbing Oktoberfest trend sees women handed free cycling shorts after videos rack up millions of views A sickening voyeuristic trend at Germany's world-famous beer festival has sparked action after more than 32,000 videos of women on a popular spinning attraction appeared online Women have been handed free cycling shorts at Oktoberfest after disturbing voyeuristic videos showing revellers’ underwear racked up millions of views online. The footage was captured on the Teufelsrad, known as the Devil’s Wheel, one of the German beer festival’s oldest attractions. The spinning ride sends people tumbling from its circular platform as it gathers speed, often causing women’s traditional dirndl dresses to fly up. Upskirting is illegal in Germany and can carry a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine. But campaigners the law does not go far enough as at least 32,000 videos of women on the ride are believed to be circulating online, according to Munich-based newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, with some reportedly attracting millions of views. One woman reportedly made €9,000 (£7,650) from a single clip, according to local broadcaster BR, whose investigation found a group of professional YouTubers from Ukraine and several people from Bavaria were behind the videos. Some images have also been digitally altered to make women appear naked, according to BR, prompting further concerns over how footage from the attraction is being used online. Teufelsrad operator Elisabeth Polaczy has now handed out more than 100 pairs of cycling shorts during this year’s Oktoberfest alone and has done so for the past three years in an attempt to protect them from people filming in the crowd. She said: “I want to do everything I can to make people feel secure.” Elisabeth said providing the shorts was not cheap, but felt the cost was worthwhile for her own peace of mind. But the 80-year-old said the number of people carrying smartphones made it impossible to control everyone filming. Some waitresses working at this year’s festival have also reportedly started wearing cycling shorts beneath their dirndls. Signs and police posters in German and English have also been put up inside the Teufelsrad tent warning visitors against filming underneath people’s skirts. As well as Bavarian police running a poster campaign at Oktoberfest warning visitors against upskirting since 2025. A 45-year-old Swiss man was arrested this year after allegedly using his phone to film underneath a German woman’s dirndl. Police made 10 arrests for upskirting last year, compared with seven in 2024. However, campaigners say Germany’s current legislation still leaves women exposed in cases where intimate images are captured when a skirt flies up. It only applies when you film under the skirt. Josephine Ballon, who heads German non-profit Hate Aid, which supports victims of digital violence, told the BBC that existing upskirting laws do not offer enough protection. She said the legislation “applies only when you film under the skirt”, meaning it does not cover the same circumstances when a skirt flies up and an image is taken. She also said there are plans for a new law. Josephine raised concerns about the growing use of camera glasses and wants people who upload intimate images of women online to face punishment, as well as the platforms hosting them. Munich authorities tightened restrictions around influencers and content creators filming at Oktoberfest, particularly those making money from material recorded at the festival. Live streaming from the event has been banned, while people wanting to film commercially must obtain a permit from the city for a fee. Hundreds of licences have been issued this year to influencers who make money through sponsorships and product placements.