Women attending Munich’s Oktoberfest amusement ride Teufelsrad (Devil’s Wheel) are being given free cycling shorts to help prevent upskirting and voyeuristic filming, media reports say. The measure follows the appearance and spread online of thousands of videos depicting women on the ride with their clothing pulled up.
Outlets report that German journalists found a large volume of clips circulating on social media, including images showing dirndl dresses riding up and revealing underwear. One report cites Süddeutsche Zeitung in saying at least 32,000 videos featuring women on the ride have been shared, with some viewed millions of times. The BBC and The Guardian describe the shorts as a protective step. The Times of India and The Guardian also report that some images were allegedly digitally manipulated to make people appear naked, citing German broadcaster BR.
While all accounts focus on the same precautionary response to the online content, the details emphasized differ: some highlight the number of videos and views, others focus on the alleged manipulation, and one outlet frames the shorts primarily as a direct deterrent for illegal filming.
