German police have seized a humanoid robot after it allegedly touched a teenage girl inappropriately and made sexually suggestive movements toward her in Cologne.
Investigators are now trying to determine whether two young men deliberately controlled the robot during the incident. Police also believe the pair may have livestreamed the encounter on social media.
The incident took place shortly before midnight on October 10 near a fast-food restaurant in a busy nightlife area of Cologne.
Videos shared online appear to show the teenager standing with two friends, aged 17 and 18, when a red-and-gold humanoid robot approached her from behind.
According to police, the robot then touched the girl’s buttocks. It also repeatedly made thrusting movements toward her.
Two Young Men Allegedly Livestreamed the Incident
Police said the robot belonged to a 16-year-old boy. He was with a 19-year-old companion at the time.
Authorities allege that the two young men recorded and livestreamed the incident themselves. They also reportedly commented on the situation live on social media.
Police officers responded shortly after the incident was reported and found the two suspects nearby.
By that time, the robot had already been placed inside the trunk of a Volkswagen.
Officers seized the humanoid robot along with both suspects’ smartphones as evidence.
German media identified the machine as a commercially available humanoid robot worth around €5,000, or approximately $5,600.
Suspect Claims Contact Was Accidental
One of the people involved later claimed on TikTok that the robot accidentally collided with a woman while trying to avoid another pedestrian.
However, longer videos circulating online appear to show the robot making sexually suggestive movements after the contact with the 16-year-old.
Investigators are now reviewing surveillance footage and videos posted online to establish exactly what happened.
Police also want to determine whether someone remotely controlled the robot, whether certain actions were programmed in advance, or whether the machine performed the movements independently.
Case Raises New Legal Questions
The unusual case has also raised questions over how existing criminal laws apply when a robot is used in potentially abusive conduct.
Under German law, the offense of sexual harassment generally requires direct physical contact between people.
Legal experts told German broadcaster RTL that this could make it more difficult to prosecute the robot’s owners under existing sexual harassment laws.
Instead, police are investigating the incident on suspicion of a sexually motivated insult.
Authorities may also examine possible violations linked to the unauthorized publication of images or videos.
So far, police have not filed charges against either suspect.
The case highlights a growing challenge for law enforcement as humanoid robots become more advanced and increasingly available to private users.
It also raises wider questions about legal responsibility when a person uses a machine to carry out actions that could otherwise be considered criminal.
The post Humanoid Robot Arrested for Sexually Harassing Teenage Girl appeared first on ProPakistani.