Germany Moves to Criminalize Voyeuristic Recording in Saunas and Spas

Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) wants to make voyeuristic photography and filming in public saunas and spas a criminal offense. In an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung published on Saturday, she said there was “definitely a gap in protection” and announced plans to create “modern criminal law provisions against digital voyeurism.” She received support from Federal Women’s Minister Karin Prien (CDU) as well as the women’s group within the CDU/CSU parliamentary bloc.

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“Many forms of digital voyeurism are already punishable today, for example secretly taking photos up someone’s skirt or down their top,” Hubig told the NOZ. “Secretly filming in a public sauna, however, is not punishable under current law. Many see that as a gap in protection, which I share.”

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“Voyeuristic nude recordings of others are unacceptable, even when they are taken in public places such as saunas, lakes, or spas,” she continued. Hubig said she intends to introduce corresponding criminal provisions. No woman should have to accept “being turned into the object of voyeur pictures just because smartphones with cameras are always within reach.”

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The former judge also warned against going too far. “As always when creating new criminal offenses, we must proceed very carefully and limit ourselves to sanctioning conduct that is genuinely deserving of punishment,” she told the paper. The goal, she said, is not to penalize incidental photography, but “digital voyeur recordings.” Women’s and Family Affairs Minister Prien signaled her support for Hubig’s initiative. Hubig’s aim to curb secret voyeur videos in saunas and wellness facilities “is an important signal for protecting privacy and especially women,” Prien told AFP. “She has my full support.”

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Mechthild Heil (CDU), chair of the women’s group in the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction, also called the minister’s proposal to close legal loopholes in this area “sensible.” Women must not be left defenseless against voyeurs with smartphone cameras, even in public saunas, she told AFP. “Protecting women is an important concern for us. We will review the details of the legal proposal once it is presented.”

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