Cologne police investigate robot used in sexual harassment incident

Police in Cologne, Germany, have seized a humanoid robot following an incident where a 16-year-old girl was allegedly groped and subjected to sexual gestures by the machine. The incident, which occurred near the intersection of Palmstrasse and Hohenzollernring, was reportedly filmed and livestreamed.

Authorities arrested a 16-year-old owner of the robot and a 19-year-old companion on suspicion of controlling the device during the encounter. The robot, described as approximately 1.2 meters tall, was found stowed in the trunk of a vehicle. Investigators have confiscated the robot and the suspects' mobile phones to determine if the machine was operated via remote control or a mobile application.

Cologne police have characterized the event as “new territory,” noting the unprecedented nature of a robot being used in this manner. At least one victim has filed a criminal complaint, and officials are treating the matter as a suspected case of sexual harassment.