The law against voyeurism: how Luxembourg fights against privacy violations
Illustration: ChatGPT
An incident in Esch-Belval in October, where an unknown man allegedly filmed a woman in a shopping centre toilet, has once again raised the issue of combating voyeurism in Luxembourg. Although the prosecutor's office refrains from commenting, the law, which comes into force in April 2021, defines such acts as a serious offence.
Under current law, any secret observation or recording of intimate body parts or underwear without a person's consent can result in:
- A fine of between €251 and €30,000;
- Imprisonment from six months to one year, especially if the material has been distributed or the victim is a minor.
An example of a strict approach is the 2023 case of a volleyball coach who installed cameras in a shower room and distributed the recordings to 139 people. He was sentenced to five years in prison, three of which were suspended. One of the recipients of the videos was also penalised: two years suspended imprisonment and a fine of €2,000.
Another case is a man sentenced to six years, including 42 months' probation, for filming his niece in a school toilet.
These judicial decisions show that Luxembourg strictly suppresses offences involving the violation of privacy. The law not only protects victims, but also sends a clear message that such acts are unacceptable, upholding the right to personal integrity.
