Authorities in Germany are investigating an incident in Cologne in which a small robot allegedly grabbed a 16-year-old girl's buttocks and made pelvic motions toward her as two young men filmed and livestreamed the encounter.
The machine itself is now part of a criminal investigation.
Here's what to know
Cologne police say the incident took place near a fast-food restaurant. Investigators are examining the actions of the robot's suspected 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion after the machine allegedly touched the girl's buttocks and the pair were said to have streamed the encounter online, The Associated Press reported.
Cologne police spokesperson Christoph Bermel said the two have not been charged but are considered suspects, the AP reported. Investigators are now working to determine whether the robot was acting on preprogrammed instructions or being directed live.
When responders arrived, police said they found the robot in a vehicle's trunk. Authorities seized the machine along with the two young men's mobile phones.
On Facebook, North Rhine-Westphalia Police Cologne posted a photo of the robot. Police said the red-and-gold machine was about 3 feet 11 inches (120 centimeters) tall and wore a white tank top, black sweatpants, a gold chain, sunglasses, and what appeared to be a fake mustache.
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More background
The AP said videos circulating online appeared to show two young men leading the red-and-gold robot down a busy nighttime street toward a group of women. Police said the footage showed the robot bumping into one woman and hugging others.
In the footage, one of the young men can reportedly be heard repeatedly yelling at the robot and pulling it backward after sexual motions, prompting laughter from people nearby.
Bermel said the case appeared to be something police had not dealt with before. "We have not been aware of this phenomenon so far," he said, describing it as "new territory for us," per the AP.
Cologne police have not said the robot used artificial intelligence.
What's being done?
As part of an investigation into possible sexual harassment, Cologne police have seized the robot along with the suspects' phones.
Investigators are trying to establish whether the robot's movements were set in advance or directed in real time during the encounter. That distinction could shape how investigators assess intent and responsibility in a case involving both physical contact and digital broadcasting.
Officers used the North Rhine-Westphalia Police Cologne Facebook account to criticize inappropriate comments and warn that sharing or joking about such incidents can further harm a victim.
The AP reported that the alleged assault was not only filmed but also broadcast live with online commentary.
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