German police are investigating two young men after a robot allegedly touched a teenage girl in a sexualised manner while the incident was being broadcast live on social media.
The incident has drawn attention to how robots used in public spaces can interact with people who have not agreed to participate, while investigators work to establish how the machine was operated.
The suspects are aged 16 and 19, according to a statement released by Cologne police on Monday, 12 October. Investigators are examining how the machine was functioning when the alleged incident took place and whether someone deliberately controlled its movements. The authorities have seized the device and two mobile phones as part of their investigation.
Although footage of the incident has circulated online, the full circumstances remain under investigation. Police are investigating the case on suspicion of Beleidigung auf sexueller Grundlage, an offence that can be translated as an insult of a sexual nature. The statement does not establish that a sexual assault offence has been proven.
Cologne Police Investigate Alleged Robot Incident
According to the official police statement, the incident took place shortly before midnight on Saturday, 10 October, outside a fast-food restaurant at the junction of Palmstraße and Hohenzollernring in central Cologne.
The 16-year-old girl was reportedly standing with two friends, aged 17 and 18, when the red and gold machine approached her from behind. Police said it allegedly touched her buttocks and made thrusting movements against her. The device was approximately 1.2 metres tall, or around four feet.
The younger suspect, who is from Wegberg, is identified by police as the robot's owner. His 19-year-old companion is also under investigation over the alleged incident.
‼️BREAKING: German police seized a robot that sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl by touching her ass and making thrusting motions at her.
— International Cyber Digest (@IntCyberDigest) October 12, 2026
Officers found it stashed in the boot of a Volkswagen.
Its 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion allegedly livestreamed it. pic.twitter.com/MTUBuXcgtT
Officers subsequently located the people involved near the junction of Magnusstraße and Hohenzollernring. Police found the robot in the boot of a Volkswagen, where the 16-year-old owner had placed it, according to the police statement.
The investigation concerns suspected Beleidigung auf sexueller Grundlage. It would therefore be misleading to report that the men have been convicted of sexual assault or that investigators have established every detail of the alleged conduct.
Robot Remote Control And Livestream Footage Under Scrutiny
Cologne police are examining whether the machine's movements were deliberately directed by a person. The authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the device was controlled remotely, followed programmed instructions or operated in another way.
The livestream is another key element of the case. Police allege that the two suspects filmed the encounter, broadcast it on social media and provided commentary while it was happening. A video has since circulated on platforms including TikTok, according to reporting by AFP.
Footage circulating online can provide investigators with material to examine, but clips shared publicly may not show the full sequence of events. The available evidence will need to establish what happened rather than relying on speculation about the incident.
The case raises questions about the responsibilities of people operating robots in public spaces, particularly when a machine's movements affect bystanders. Establishing who directed the device, what its operator intended and what the footage shows may become important when authorities assess incidents involving such machines.
