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Voyeurism could potentially face legal repercussions, as proposed by a Colonian.

Local resident in Cologne advocates for legal penalties against secretive recording activities.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
Voyeurism could potentially face criminalization, as proposed by a Cologne resident.
Voyeurism could potentially face criminalization, as proposed by a Cologne resident.

In the heart of Dรผsseldorf, the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a pressing issue has come to light. Yanni Gentsch, a 30-year-old resident of Cologne, found herself the unwilling subject of a voyeuristic recording while jogging in the city's Green Belt in February 2025.

Gentsch, who has since taken up jogging with her dog, was filmed by a cyclist who focused on her buttocks. Upon noticing the cyclist's shadow behind her, she realised she was being recorded. She confronted the peeper, forced him to delete the footage, and even filmed him doing so.

Initially, the police informed Gentsch that she couldn't hold the voyeur accountable as the incident occurred in a public space and she was clothed. However, this didn't deter Gentsch from taking action. She posted the video online, with the voyeur's face blurred, and started a petition titled "Voyeur Recordings Should Be Made Illegal."

On Monday, Gentsch handed over her petition to NRW Justice Minister Benjamin Limbach (Greens). Minister Limbach expressed his opinion that there is a gap in criminal law regarding secretly recording clothed intimate areas. He suggested amending paragraph 184k of the Criminal Code to make such recordings illegal if they're taken secretly and with sexual intent.

Gentsch's petition has gathered over 100,000 signatures, and she is now targeting lawmakers, specifically Minister Limbach and the conference of justice ministers, to change the German Criminal Code. She aims to extend Paragraph 184a to criminalise all voyeuristic photo and video recordings made secretly and often with sexual intent without consent, closing a current legal gap that exempts such recordings if the person is clothed and in public.

Minister Limbach has shown his support for Gentsch's cause, thanking her for bringing her case to light and initiating a necessary legal debate. He further stated that sexual harassment is never harmless and is the first step in a cycle of violence.

The viral video, which has racked up 14 million views, has sparked a much-needed conversation about privacy, consent, and the need for stricter laws against voyeurism. As the issue continues to be discussed, justice ministers are expected to meet in November to discuss whether the Criminal Code should be amended due to cases like Gentsch's.

Gentsch's courageous stand against voyeurism serves as a reminder that every individual has the right to privacy and that laws must evolve to protect citizens from such invasive practices. Her fight is not just for herself, but for every woman who has experienced the violation of being secretly filmed without consent.

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