YouTuber Marvin Wildhage confronts a man filming women at Germany's Oktoberfest, but police let him leave.
Germany's Oktoberfest is known around the world for beer, rides, and millions of visitors. But YouTuber Marvin Wildhage used this year's festival to investigate a much darker issue. At the Teufelsrad, or Devil's Wheel, he says he spotted a man repeatedly filming women with a GoPro.
Wildhage Tracks A Man With A GoPro
The Teufelsrad (Devil's Wheel) is a spinning attraction where visitors try to stay on a rotating platform for as long as possible. Wildhage says the attraction has become a popular target for people filming women from below, especially when skirts or dresses move during the ride.
The attraction's operators are already aware of the problem. Signs warn visitors that upskirting is a crime, while staff repeatedly tell people to hold their phones up instead of filming from below. Wildhage nevertheless noticed one man who allegedly spent around 30 rounds filming from the front row with a GoPro.
What caught his attention was that the man appeared to film only when women were riding. When men or children took their turn, Wildhage says the camera was no longer being used.
After following the man outside, Wildhage confronted him. The man claimed he was filming the women because his lesbian daughter had asked him to record them. Wildhage questioned the explanation and eventually contacted the police.
Police Review The Footage, But Let Him Go
Police eventually spoke to the man and reviewed footage from his GoPro. However, according to Wildhage's report, officers did not seize the camera or memory card for evidence.
Instead, they briefly reviewed the recordings and concluded that the footage initially appeared to be harmless. The man was warned that filming people in this way can be illegal, but he was ultimately allowed to leave.
For Wildhage, that was frustrating. He believed the man's behavior was suspicious, particularly because he allegedly filmed for dozens of rounds and focused on women rather than the other groups using the attraction.
However, the investigation does not establish that the man committed a crime. The police did not identify the footage as clearly illegal, and Wildhage's suspicions remain just that. Still a strange situation.
The incident highlights a broader problem at one of Germany's biggest festivals. While carrying a phone or camera at the Oktoberfest does not automatically make someone a creep, crowded attractions can make it difficult to spot people who deliberately record others without their knowledge.
What do you think about
