German police in Cologne have seized a humanoid robot and opened an investigation for alleged sexual harassment after the device was accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
The incident occurred late on Saturday, October 10, into Sunday, October 11, outside a fast-food restaurant on Hohenzollernring in central Cologne. According to police, the 16-year-old victim was standing with two friends, aged 17 and 18, when a 1.2-meter tall red-and-gold robot approached her from behind.
Police said the robot allegedly touched the girl on her buttocks and made thrusting motions toward her.
Investigators said the robot’s suspected 16-year-old owner and his 19-year-old companion allegedly filmed the incident, live-streamed it on social media and commented on it while it was happening. A video circulating on TikTok shows the robot pressing against the girl as she screams and moves away.
Officers who responded to the scene later found the robot hidden in the boot of a Volkswagen car. The robot and the two suspects’ mobile phones were confiscated as evidence.
Cologne police spokesman Christoph Bermel told AP that the two males have not been charged but are being treated as suspects. He said investigators are examining whether the robot’s movements were pre-programmed or controlled remotely in real time.
“We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far,” Bermel said, describing the case as “new territory for us.”
Police said the robot, believed to be a Chinese-made Unitree model, was dressed in a white tank top, black sweatpants, a gold chain, sunglasses and a fake moustache. It is about 120cm tall and retails for around €5,000.
The investigation is ongoing for suspected sexual harassment, which under German law can carry up to two years in prison.
Leave a comment