Child-Friendly Smartphone Uses AI to Block Inappropriate Images: Discover How!

Many parents are concerned about the smartphones their children use, citing inappropriate content and potential misuse as major issues. HMD believes it has a solution with its new phone model.

HMD Global, known for continuing to produce Nokia phones, is also focused on creating safer smartphones for younger users. At the MWC, the company introduced the Fusion X1, a variant of an existing model that prioritizes online safety. The goal is to reduce exposure to harmful content and the pitfalls of social media.

Going a step further, today HMD unveils the Fuse, a phone designed specifically for children. It features AI-enabled protections that prevent the capturing, sending, displaying, and saving of sexual content. This blocking also functions during live video streams. The technology is integrated directly into the system and camera, enabling it to prevent the creation or sharing of images before they occur. According to the company, the system operates offline and remains active across all apps, offering parents a ready-to-use solution that provides peace of mind.

HarmBlock Plus AI Prevents Nude Capture, Sending, and Viewing on the HMD Fuse

At the heart of the system is HarmBlock Plus, an AI developed with SafeToNet. This AI was trained using 22 million images of nudes deemed harmful, allowing it to instantly identify risky photographs. The model operates locally, offline, and activates as soon as the camera is opened or when images are shared. HMD asserts that it is impossible to delete, deceive, or bypass the system, even with a VPN.

The tool does not extract personal data and functions consistently across all applications. Alongside this, the Fuse offers comprehensive parental controls similar to those found in the Fusion X1, allowing parents to manage schedules, permissions, and contacts. These settings can be adjusted as the child grows older.

The Fuse will initially launch in the United Kingdom, coinciding with the implementation of new child protection regulations. In France, the regulatory environment may facilitate a swift release. Starting from July 2024, all connected devices must come with built-in parental controls. This smartphone already meets this requirement with its integrated protections, suggesting that it may soon be launched on the French market. However, HMD has not yet announced a specific release date.