German Justice Minister Proposes Criminalizing Secret Filming in Public Saunas and LakesThe German Federal Minister of Justice has initiated a proposal to make covert recording of individuals in public spaces such as saunas and lakes a criminal offense. This move aims to address gaps in the current legal framework that do not adequately protect individuals from unwanted digital voyeurism in public areas. Currently, German law does not punish the act of secretly filming or photographing individuals who are partially clothed or nude in certain public places, such as saunas, swimming lakes, or spas. Several German states, including Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, have expressed support for criminalizing secret recordings in these contexts. Their backing is partly motivated by recent incidents in which covert recordings in public saunas led to legal proceedings being dismissed due to the lack of applicable criminal statutes.

Source: The Munich Eye January 24, 2026 15:48 UTC