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Explained in plain English

Are robot manufacturers liable?

Manufacturers might be liable if a robot's design or software is inherently flawed, causing it to act inappropriately without direct human control. However, in the Cologne incident, the owners were allegedly controlling and filming the robot, which shifts the focus of responsibility towards them and their actions.

Stories that explain this

Robot seized after girl, 16, harassed outside Cologne restaurant

Questions this opens up

Who regulates robot safety? What are robot 'kill switches'? Can robots be programmed maliciously?

Related explainers

How common are public robots? What crime did the robot commit? What if a robot turns violent? What if the robot is autonomous? Who pays for robot damage? Who is responsible for robot actions? Can a robot commit a crime? How is robot liability decided?

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