Smartphone for children uses AI to block nudes
HMD, Europe's largest manufacturer of smartphones, has embedded the AI technology in a phone to make it capable of automatically detecting and blocking nude content before it reaches a child.
The company's Fuse phone prevents children from filming or sending nude content, and from seeing or saving nude and sexual images – even within a livestream.
Unlike conventional parental controls, which block access to entire sites and can be bypassed, the technology developed by UK AI specialists SafeToNet cannot be disabled because it is embedded in the phone's operating system.
System blocks sexual selfies
It allows a child to remain on social media or other platforms but stops them seeing harmful content within them. The AI technology also extends to the phone's camera and video, preventing them taking any sexual 'selfies' or images that could be shared with a sexual predator or friends.
The phone's AI technology, known as HarmBlock, has been initially trained to block children from seeing any sexual content but will be extended to prevent them accessing 'gore', extreme violence, self-harm and suicide content, according to SafeToNet.
The technology works across the camera and is pre-trained ethically on 22 million harmful nude images, making it the first protection tool children cannot bypass.
The phone was welcomed by Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, who said: 'With the latest online safety laws recently coming into force, we've started laying the foundations for a safer online world.
'But the work doesn't end here – we want the internet to be a place where young people can flourish, expand their horizons, pursue their passions and access education in ways no generation has before, all while trusting that the technology they use keeps them safe and helps them grow into better individuals.'
The parental controls on the phone also allow app management, meaning they can approve or block apps, set daily usage limits for each app and schedule screen-free times for specific activities such as bedtime or study time.
Location tracking and contact controls
They also allow for real-time location tracking and safe zone alerts to help parents keep track of their child's whereabouts. Parents can white-list trusted contacts, so limiting calls and messages to approved individuals.
James Robinson, the vice-president of HMD Family, said:'We've created not just a new phone, but a new category. One that recognises children's evolving needs and puts safety at the heart of the experience from day one.
'When you give your child a smartphone, you bring a stranger and unknown dangers into your home. You can't watch them always online, but now you have peace of mind that there's protection in place even when you can't be there, all while keeping their privacy in place. That's why we believe this is a huge step forward in making a safer phone.'
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