Federal States Urge Legal Penalties for Sauna Voyeurism

Efforts are underway in Germany to introduce stricter penalties for individuals who secretly record others in public spaces such as saunas or beaches. This initiative is being led by the federal states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, which have jointly presented a motion to the Bundesrat calling for comprehensive legal reforms to address digital voyeurism.

Currently, German law prohibits the dissemination of explicit images taken without consent, but does not necessarily criminalize the act of recording or photographing individuals in public areas, including saunas and changing rooms. This legislative gap has led to instances where those affected by such invasions of privacy have had limited recourse. In a recent case, two women were filmed without their knowledge in a sauna. Authorities confiscated the recording device, but ultimately returned it to the individual responsible, as the act was not prosecutable under existing legislation.

Justice officials from Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia argue that the proliferation of smartphones has contributed to a significant rise in voyeuristic incidents. They have highlighted the need for updated laws that would not only penalize the act of recording but also allow for the confiscation of devices used in these offenses and guarantee victims the right to have such material deleted.

The proposed reforms aim to address situations where individuals are filmed or photographed in vulnerable settings such as public saunas, beaches, or changing areas. Proponents of the initiative stress that individuals recorded in these circumstances often experience humiliation and a sense of violation, regardless of gender. The goal is to ensure that legal protections are extended equally to all, thereby preventing potential victims from feeling compelled to avoid public spaces due to privacy concerns.

While specific legislative amendments have yet to be outlined, suggestions include revising current statutes regarding personal privacy or introducing a new offense category specifically targeting voyeuristic activities in public environments. The Bundesrat is scheduled to deliberate on the proposed initiative in the coming days.

Advocacy for the legal changes has also gained public support. Notably, cases involving covert filming have prompted affected individuals to launch petitions that have attracted tens of thousands of signatures, underscoring widespread concern about digital sexual harassment. These campaigns have urged lawmakers to close the legal loophole that allows perpetrators to act with impunity.

At present, German law imposes penalties of up to two years' imprisonment for recording individuals in highly private settings such as homes or restrooms without consent. Victims are also entitled to request the deletion of unauthorized intimate recordings under the right to one's own image. However, these provisions do not always extend to incidents occurring in public environments, leaving many victims without adequate legal protection.

Supporters of the reform emphasize that digital sexual violence is not a marginal issue but a significant societal challenge, disproportionately affecting women and girls. The widespread availability of smartphones has made it easier to commit such acts, intensifying calls for legislative action to safeguard personal dignity and privacy in public spaces.