Now there's a 'frigid' sex robot that allows men to simulate rape fantasies

The world's first sex robot company has introduced a new setting for its female sex robot Roxxxy that enables men to simulate raping a woman.

The $9,995 (£7,716) Roxxxy sex robot by True Companion comes with five different "girlfriend profiles" that aim to give the artificially intelligent sex doll different personalities. One of the personalities is called "Frigid Farrah", who is "reserved and shy".

"She interacts just like a human – she hears what you are saying as well as where you are touching her and responds as appropriately as possible," True Companion states on its website.

"For instance, if you have Roxxxy using her 'Frigid Farrah' personality and you touched her in a private area, more than likely, she will not be to appreciative of your advance. But if your Roxxxy is using the 'Wild Wendy' personality, she will want you to do it again."

And if that isn't unsavoury enough, True Companion have also released another personality for the robot called "Young Yoko", who is "oh so young (barely 18) and waiting for you to teach her".

Roxxxy is designed to help people realise their "most erotic fantasies", and while True Companion's founder Douglas Hines might not have a problem with a robot that lets men act out rape fantasies, robotics experts definitely do.

Noel Sharkey, co-founder of the Foundation of Responsible Robotics and a robotics professor at the University of Sheffield, is deeply concerned about the numerous ethical implications of the burgeoning super-realistic robotic sex doll industry.

A survey by UK innovations firm Nesta in April 2016 found that a quarter of all young people would happily date a robot, provided their android beau looked just like a real human being.

Innocent, or more sinister in nature?

Humanoid robots that are designed just for people to have sex with are incapable of giving consent, and this could encourage the objectification, abuse and rape of women.

Professor Sharkey is also calling for a ban on importing child-like sex robots, as he believes the products will only serve to empower paedophiles, rather than offering them a way to deal with their sexual desires in a safe way.

"They may encourage more people into paedophilia and they may shift societal norms to make child sex more acceptable," he told IBTimes UK.

"They may help some to not offend but may encourage others. It is also now possible to make silicon robots that look exactly like particular children and who would want their child to be represented on a sex robot?"

The Foundation of Responsible Robotics interviewed Hines as part of its new consultation report, "Our Sexual Future with Robots".

"Roxxxy, our sex robot, provides what every adult needs - unconditional love and support. The ability to feel the loving embrace of a lover is a right every adult should be granted. We provide a solution to help adults meet their social as well as sexual needs," he said.

Getting policymakers involved

The report concludes: "When we look at the question of whether or not sex robots could help to prevent sex crimes, there is major disagreement.

"This may work for a few but it is a very dangerous path to tread. It may be that allowing people to live out their darkest fantasies with sex robots could have a pernicious effect on society and societal norms and create more danger for the vulnerable."

Professor Sharkey says that the report has had an overwhelming response from members of the public, arguing both for and against sex robots.

"We have statements from religious groups and we have been contacted by therapists and non-offending paedophiles who believe that child sex robots could be helpful. We are also now consulting with the UK police who have just secured a conviction against a man for possession of a child sex doll," he said.

"From the overwhelming public response to our report and concern about sex robots, it is clear that a lot more work is required to sort out what should and should not be allowed. When all of the information has come in and been classified, we will produce a report for policy makers on the consultation."