HMD Launches AI-Powered Smartphone to Protect Children from Nude Content

This Phone For Kids Will Block the Capture of Nude Content From Within the Camera

Katie is a UK-based news reporter and features writer. Officially, she is CNET's European correspondent, covering tech policy and Big Tech in the EU and UK. Unofficially, she serves as CNET's Taylor Swift correspondent. You can also find her writing about tech for good, ethics and human rights, the climate crisis, robots, travel and digital culture. She was once described a "living synth" by London's Evening Standard for having a microchip injected into her hand. Among the biggest concerns of parents whose kids own a smartphone must surely be the knowledge that there's a whole bunch of nude content out there on the internet for them to stumble across. Likely more worrying still is the thought that their precious offspring may be tempted to make such content themselves. Finnish phone maker HMD has been on a mission for the past few years to make phone ownership a safer prospect for children via its Better Phones Project -- and it might have come up with a solution to calm the nerves of concerned parents. On Wednesday, the company unveiled the HMD Fuse phone, which comes with built-in AI-powered technology to prevent children from filming and sending nude content, as well as well from seeing and saving sexual images -- even from within a livestream. "This is more than a product," said James Robinson, VP of HMD Family. "It's a safety net, a statement of intent, and a response." The AI (called HarmBlock Plus) has been created by cybersecurity SafeToNet, and is embedded into the phone (including the camera), which according to HMD, makes it impossible to bypass. It's apparently been ethically trained on 22 million harmful nude images and works offline. "HarmBlock Plus can't be removed, tricked, or worked around," said SafeToNet founder Richard Pursey. "It doesn't collect personal data. It just protects every time, across every app, including VPNs, with zero loopholes." Parental controls, similar to those available on the Fusion X1, which HMD introduced at MWC in March, will also allow for supervision and management of a child's phone use. This can be scaled back as a kid grows older and requires more independence. The phone is launching exclusively on Vodafone in the UK, where the recent introduction of the Online Safety Act means strict age verification rules are now required to prevent minors from accessing harmful content online. It will cost £33 per month, with a £30 up-front fee and is set to launch in other countries in the coming months, starting with Australia. There's no indication the Fuse will be headed to the US, where the company has in the past few months scaled back its operations.

HMD has made a Never Nude phone

The Pixel 10 delivers a major 4K video upgrade that helps preserve your storage The HMD Fuse smartphone approaches the issue of keeping children safe online in an interesting way. Instead of age checks or content bans, it includes an AI-powered content blocker specifically tuned to block nudity from apps and websites, delete images and videos containing nudity from the phone, and even stop the camera from capturing nude images, in video, still, and streaming form. It does so using an existing tool called HarmBlock AI, which is built into the phone's software, rather than being a separate app or working in the cloud, avoiding any way to bypass it including with a VPN. HMD says the AI has been "ethically trained on over 22 million harmful images" and doesn't collect or share any data from the phone. HarmBlock AI is only part of what makes the HMD Fuse ideal for kids. Out of the box it's entirely free of, well, everything. There's no app store or pre-installed social apps, but there is a built-in management system where, using an app installed on their own device, parents can approve what works on the phone and what does not. Through the companion app, contacts must be approved, so kids can only contact pre-approved numbers, and location tracking can be set up with safe zones, where alerts are sent when a child enters or leaves. However, instead of keeping the phone locked down forever, the HMD Fuse's functionality can be increased over time, including access to the Google Play Store and apps. Under the cut-offs The HMD Fuse is a relatively standard mid-range smartphone, and ideal as someone's first device. It has a 6.56-inch screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a 5,000mAh battery. Use of the camera can be restricted in the Fuse's management app, but once opened up, it has a 108-megapixel main rear camera along with a 2MP depth camera, plus a 50MP fixed-focus selfie camera. HMD includes two of its modular case "Outfits" in the box, one for overall protection, and the other with a built-in ring light. The phone follows on from HMD's Fusion X1, the first in a series of phones designed for online safety, which launched at MWC 2025 in March. It comes with the Xplora app already installed, which is used to manage the device and ensure it's safe for kids to enjoy. Both it and the Fuse are the result of HMD's work with the Better Phone Project, an effort to create smartphones which are safe for kids to use, and also to help reduce smartphone and social media addiction. The HMD Fuse is available in the U.K. now through the Vodafone and Three networks, where it costs £498 (about $670) without a contract, or from £23 per month, and this includes the use of HarmBlock AI. A U.S. release has not been announced at this time.

'It could change lives': HMD debuts the 'pornography incompatible' HMD Fuse kids' smartphone - and it really does work

The phone is currently exclusive to Vodafone and Three in the UK Finnish company HMD, best known as the maker of Nokia phones, has released a new device for teens that uses AI to block the viewing, sending, receiving, and creation of nude images. The HMD Fuse, which is available now, uses British online safety company SafeToNet's HarmBlock+ AI to detect and block harmful content, even on live streams or video calls. HarmBlock+ is embedded at the OS level, can't be switched off or worked around, and works across any app or content type by scanning for nude imagery at the screen rendering stage. When such imagery is detected, the entire screen is blocked, and any communications apps are closed, severing calls or live streams. "We believe this will be the most impactful smartphone launch of the year," James Robinson, VP of HMD Family at HMD, said at the Fuse's London launch. "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." HMD consulted with more than 37,000 parents, guardians, and children in the design process of the HMD Fuse, seeking a balance between function, safety, and indeed privacy for the child using the phone. Harmblock+ works by taking a snapshot of the screen rendering pipeline every six to seven seconds, and was trained on a database of 22 million ethically sourced harmful images. The snapshots are only ever stored and processed on-device, and are destroyed as soon as the Harmblock+ block is activated. Richard Pursey, founder of SafeToNet, said: "HarmBlock+ can't be removed, tricked, or worked around. It doesn't collect personal data. It just protects every time, across every app, including VPNs, with zero loopholes." "We are seeing a rise in peer-to-peer online abuse and child exploitation," Pursey added, "and this is the first and only AI to stop that. In essence, we have made the HMD Fuse pornography incompatible." The safety of children online has been a major concern lately, especially with the Online Safety Act coming into effect in the UK. Data provided by Vodafone suggests that 1 in 5 secondary school-aged children have felt pressured to send explicit images of themselves. Of those that do, nearly two-thirds later find out that these images were forwarded on to others without their consent. The HMD Fuse aims to prevent the pain and panic that can come from such a situation. And, of course, the creation and receipt of such images is highly illegal, no matter the age of the participants, so HarmBlock+ could also stop children from breaking the law. At the phone's launch event, Pursey said: "The world needs to understand the art of the possible. Those platforms that say online harm is a social issue that can't be solved by technology... we're proving to you that they're wrong." The same event included a demo with the new phone - and having tested HarmBlock+ ourselves, we can confirm it's remarkably effective, acting within seconds and forcing a return to the previous screen. The phone was first revealed to a group of schoolchildren at the Michael Community School in Wembley, London, where headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh said: "This device gives parents the power to intervene, to guide, and to protect, and for that, it could change lives." While HarmBlock+ is focused on blocking pornography and child sexual abuse material, the HMD Fuse's digital and real-world safety tools don't end there. In fact, the phone is built from the ground up with parental controls in mind. At first, the HMD Fuse has practically no smart functions whatsoever, and is only as functional as a Nokia feature phone. Using a linked app on their own smart device, parents and guardians can enable or disable apps and features in real time, as well as limit screen time and track the location of their child's HMD Fuse. As for hardware, the HMD Fuse competes with the best cheap phones. The phone comes with a 6.56-inch display, a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset with 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage (expandable with up to 1TB of microSD storage). The handset also sports a 108MP rear camera, a 50MP selfie camera, and a 5,000mAh battery. The phone's single configuration is available exclusively from Vodafone and Three at £33/month (£30 upfront) with 5GB of mobile data. A wider release seems unlikely at this stage, but software like HarmBlock+ is certainly something we'd like to see adopted on a global scale.

HMD's new phone uses AI to say no to nudes

The HMD Fuse comes with features to protect kids from taking, sending and seeing sexual images What's happened? Smartphone maker HMD (Human Mobile Devices), has launched a new smartphone designed to protect kids from harmful content online, with an AI feature which blocks nudes. The HMD Fuse comes with a feature called HarmBlock+ It uses AI to prevent children from filming or sending nude content, and from seeing or saving nude and sexual images. The company says the feature works within the camera, and across all apps. It's even able to block nude and sexual images in a livestream. Built-in parental controls allow parents to manage usage, and unlock certain features as their child gets older. This isn't the firm's first foray into kid-friendly phones, as it launched the Fusion X1 earlier this year. This is important because: A recent Vodafone survey found one in five high school aged children (11-17) have felt pressured into sharing an explicit image of themselves. Meanwhile, 46% of parents admit to having concerns around their child receiving explicit images. The HarmBlock AI which powers the HarmBlock+ feature has been developed by online safety firm SafeToNet. The AI model has been ethically pre-trained on 22 million harmful nude images. HMD also claims it's the first protection tool children can't bypass. Recommended Videos Why should I care? If you're a parent who is concerned about the content their children can access on their mobile phone, the HMD Fuse offers a level of safety and security few other handsets can come close to - it's unlikely the upcoming Google Pixel 10 or iPhone 17 will offer the features here. There are a number of other safety features built into the Fuse, including the ability to limit app access and screen time. There's also the option to turn on location tracking every 24 seconds, with the ability to set safe zones. Parents can receive alerts when those zones are entered or exited. It also offers default blocking of internet and social media apps. HMD says the Fuse can 'grow' with the child, as parents have the ability to lock the phone down to just calls, texts and location to start with, and then unlock more features and apps as their kid gets older. Okay, what's next? The HMD Fuse is currently only available in the UK, via the carrier Vodafone, where it costs £33 per month (plus a £30 upfront cost). HMD has confirmed the Fuse will arrive in other countries in the coming months, starting with Australia. There's currently no word on whether it'll be available in the US. We contacted HMD about US availability, but a spokesperson was only able to confirm the current expansion plan to Australia and New Zealand.

Smartphone for children uses AI to block nudes

World-first technology is embedded in operating system and cannot be bypassed The world's first phone that can prevent children from seeing naked content has been launched after an AI breakthrough backed by the Government. 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.

HMD Launches Fuse Smartphone With HarmBlock+ Parental Control Features

The handset leverages AI to block explicit imagery from being displayed HMD Fuse was launched in select markets on Wednesday. The handset comes with a 6.56-inch HD+ 90Hz display. It is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, coupled with 6GB of RAM. Among the highlights is a suite of parental control features dubbed HarmBlock+. As per the company, it can be used to designate safe zones, whitelist contacts, and enable app access restrictions. The HMD Fuse packs a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging support. HMD Fuse Price, Availability The HMD Fuse is exclusively available via Vodafone in the UK, with a GBP 33 (roughly Rs. 3,877) per month contract. There is also an upfront cost of GBP (roughly Rs. 3,500), which customers have to pay to get the handset. According to the company, the HMD Fuse will also be available in Australia and other markets. HMD Fuse Features, Specifications The dual SIM (nano + eSIM) HMD Fuse runs on Android 15. It is said to receive three years of quarterly security updates. The handset sports a 6.56-inch HD+ (720 x 1,612 pixels) display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 600 nits peak brightness, and a 20:9 aspect ratio. It measures 164.15 x 75.5 x 8.32 in terms of dimensions and weighs 202.5 grams. The HMD Fuse is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. As per the brand, the RAM is virtually expandable by another 6GB. For optics, the handset has a dual rear camera unit, which includes a 108-megapixel primary camera with autofocus and electronic image stabilisation (EIS), and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. There is also an LED flash alongside the camera system. On the front, you get a 50-megapixel camera for selfies and video calls. With the HMD Fuse, the brand has placed a big emphasis on child safety. It comes with the HarmBlock+ parental suite. It leverages a pre-trained on-device AI model called HarmBlock AI to block explicit photos and videos from being displayed. HMD said that it can also detect any explicit imagery in the camera viewfinder and stop it from being clicked or streamed. Parents or guardians can whitelist contacts to ensure that only pre-approved contacts can be called or messaged. They can also designate up to 10 safe zones and receive notifications when their child enters or exits the zone. The handset does not ship with any apps, but they can be installed via the Google Play Store. Parents have control over which apps will be available on the HMD Fuse. Connectivity options on the HMD Fuse include 5G, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, GPS, OTG, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 33W wired fast charging support. As per the company, it can deliver up to 56 hours of usage on a single charge cycle.

Worried about your kid having a smartphone? This could be the answer | Stuff

The HMD Fuse can block inappropriate images at the system level - and so protect children from online harm If you're a concerned parent who is yet to get your child a smartphone, or you're a parent dealing with the tangled web of various parental controls - you are not alone. Now HMD - the maker of Nokia phones - has debuted the HMD Fuse, designed to be easy to manage for parents. Crucially, the Fuse is a smartphone rather than a dumb phone, so the child can get access to all the key apps they'll want. Parents can install a partner app on their own smartphone (iOS or Android) which enables them to set time limits, block apps and define screen free times. But that's not all - the Fuse is infused with HarmBlock+, a tech designed by UK-based SafeToNet that blocks inappropriate images at the system level, so no sexual imagery can be taken, viewed or shared. This extra software is small, around 35MB and is essentially an AI model that detects any nude imagery. The company worked with the Internet Watch Foundation to train the AI model. The HMD Fuse is a 6.56in HD+ budget phone running Android 15 on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 5 Gen 2 platform with 6GB of memory and 128GB of storage. There's a 108 MP rear camera, 2MP portrait camera and 50MP selfie cam. The phone will be available on Vodafone UK initially from £33 a month with a £30 upfront cost. Vodafone has also teamed up with the NSPCC over the project and has worked with the charity on a questionnaire that parents can explore to decide if it's the right time for children to have their first phone. I saw the HarmBlock+tech in action at an event I attended and the screen essentially goes blank if nude imagery is detected until you move the camera. For web content, an overlay appears on screen, which enables you to return to the previous web page. The tech analyses what's on the display (or camera) seven times a second. The technology was demonstrated to us using the camera and some very innocuous images, though the SafeToNet representative says the company has done a lot of work to minimise false positives from innocent images such as a picture of someone in a swimsuit. The creator of HarmBlock and founder of SafeToNet, Richard Pursey, told us how HarmBlock's AI focuses on harmful content, as opposed to simply remotely managing a device and the apps running on it. "What we've been able to do is take these enormous, large language models, and we shrunk them down to what we call a mustard seed, without compromising accuracy. Why is that important? Because, of course, these devices don't have huge processing power, like you'd see on the big server farms." The crucial bit is that the tech is completely app-agnostic. "With the Online Safety Act and the introduction of age verification technology, you'll know that there's a workaround with VPNs," continues Pursey. "Well, there isn't with harm lock, because [HarmBlock+ is] in the screen rendering technology. By the time it's got to the screen, it's come out of the VPN. So if the child wants to pretend they're in Timbuktu, fine, well, that's fine by us. That won't make any difference, because you're not going to see it." Vodafone's research found that while 93% of parents support their child having an internet-connected device, they're concerned about them being sent explicit images (46%) or sending images themselves (28%). The network says one in five secondary school aged children have felt pressured into sharing an explicit image of themselves. The HMD Fuse came out of an project that HMD embarked upon last year, called that the Better Phone Project. James Robinson, head of HMD Family says: "we had 37,000 parents and their children participating, really trying to find out what's missing [from a phone]. What do you need? What would you like to see more of? it was really insightful. "The HMD Fuse gives parents more control and peace of mind and helps to protect children from explicit content in real time, without encroaching on their privacy."

HMD Fuse: The UK's First HarmBlock AI Phone, Exclusively at Vodafone

The HMD Fuse, now available exclusively through Vodafone, is transforming the way parents approach their children's digital safety. As the UK's first AI-powered safe smartphone, the HMD Fuse features the innovative HarmBlock AI technology, which is designed to protect children from explicit content by preventing it from being seen, created, shared, or stored on the device. What sets HarmBlock AI apart from traditional parental controls is its ability to operate entirely on-device, ensuring privacy by not collecting or sharing any user data. This means that parents can have peace of mind knowing their child's personal information is secure while they explore the digital world. The introduction of the HMD Fuse is a significant step forward in addressing the concerns of parents who want to provide their children with a phone while maintaining a safe and controlled environment. With a comprehensive suite of tools, including contact whitelisting, live location tracking, and customizable safe zones, the HMD Fuse empowers parents to monitor and manage their child's smartphone usage effectively. By offering a balance between freedom and security, this innovative device aims to foster a healthy relationship between children and technology. Vodafone has made the HMD Fuse accessible to families by offering competitive pricing and flexible payment options. Customers can purchase the device starting at just £33 per month with a £30 upfront cost, based on a 36-month Phone Plan and a 24-month Airtime Plan. This affordable pricing structure allows parents to invest in their child's digital safety without breaking the bank. Additionally, Vodafone provides 0% APR Phone Plans and customizable upfront costs, giving families the flexibility to budget for the HMD Fuse according to their financial situation. To further support families, Vodafone offers a Lifetime Service Promise with every HMD Fuse purchase. This comprehensive service includes free battery health checks, replacements, and a Lifetime Warranty, ensuring that the phone remains in optimal condition for years to come. By providing this level of support, Vodafone demonstrates its commitment to delivering a high-quality, reliable product that parents can trust. The HMD Fuse is packed with features that make it an ideal choice for families: Vodafone's commitment to child safety extends beyond the HMD Fuse, with the company offering a range of resources and services to support parents in navigating the digital landscape. The "Connect and Protect" initiative, developed in collaboration with the NSPCC, provides valuable tools to help parents determine if their child is ready for a phone and which type of device best suits their needs. These resources empower parents to make informed decisions about their child's digital journey, ensuring a safe and age-appropriate experience. In addition to the "Connect and Protect" initiative, Vodafone's Secure Net Mobile service offers powerful parental controls, including content filters and digital downtime settings. This service, available free for the first three months, allows parents to customize their child's smartphone experience further, setting boundaries and promoting healthy digital habits. By providing these additional resources, Vodafone demonstrates its dedication to supporting families in the ever-evolving digital world. Whether parents opt for a feature phone or a smartphone, the HMD Fuse and Vodafone's family-focused offerings provide a safe and reliable way to introduce children to the digital world. By prioritizing child safety and empowering parents with the tools they need to monitor and manage their child's smartphone usage, the HMD Fuse sets a new standard for AI-powered safe smartphones, paving the way for a more secure and responsible digital future for the next generation.

HMD Fuse smartphone for children with on-device nude content blocking unveiled

HMD Global has introduced HMD Fuse, the company's latest smartphone for Children. The company says that it is the world's first smartphone that prevents children from filming or sending nude content, and from seeing or saving nude and sexual images - even within a livestream with HarmBlock+ with HarmBlock AI from SafeToNet. This aims to provide a new option for parents concerned about their children's online safety amid rising rates of cyberbullying and online risks. The phone's development was informed by "The Better Phone Project," an HMD initiative that consulted over 37,000 parents and children. The feedback indicated a demand for a device that balances safety with functionality, as parents reported existing options were either too exposed to online risks or too locked-down. The central feature of the HMD Fuse is HarmBlock+, an AI-powered system developed by SafeToNet. Unlike app-based safety solutions, HarmBlock+ is integrated directly into the phone's operating system. The developers state this makes the system tamper-proof and impossible for users to circumvent. The HMD Fuse includes a comprehensive parental control system that allows for: The smartphone is designed to evolve with a child's needs. Parents can initially configure it to operate as a basic phone with only calls, texts, and location tracking enabled. As the child matures, features like music apps, controlled web access, and messaging services can be gradually unlocked. Other specifications of the smartphone are similar to the HMD Fusion and also comes two interchangeable outfits, including one case with a foldable LED light ring around the camera for selfies. The HMD Fuse comes in single Noir colour, and is now available in the UK, exclusively from Vodafone UK priced at 33 GBP a month (30 GBP upfront cost), and will be in retail stores and online at vodafone.co.uk/family.