HMD LAUNCHES WORLD-FIRST SMARTPHONE FOR KIDS THAT USES AI TO BLOCK NUDE CONTENT

Sydney has become the global launchpad for a new era in digital parenting, with Human Mobile Devices (HMD) unveiling the world’s first smartphone designed specifically for children - built with groundbreaking artificial intelligence that blocks nude content across cameras, apps and screens.

“We believe this will be the most impactful smartphone launch of the year," said James Robinson, Vice President, HMD Family.

“When you give your child a smartphone, you bring a stranger and unknown dangers into your home.

"You can’t always watch them 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.”

The HMD Fuse protected with HarmBlock+ is being hailed as a watershed moment for families navigating the fine line between keeping children connected and keeping them safe.

Unlike conventional smartphones, where parental controls are often bolted on after purchase, this device has protection built into its operating system from the ground up.

DESIGNED WITH FAMILIES, FOR FAMILIES

The Fuse is the result of a co-design initiative that involved consultation with over 37,000 parents and children.

Their feedback shaped a device that aims to grow with its young users. At first activation, all features are locked down.

Parents can then decide, at their own pace, when to allow internet browsing, camera use, social media or app downloads.

It’s a system designed to give families peace of mind in a digital world where risks are rising.

According to HMD, 32 per cent of Australian children have already been exposed to sexual or violent content, 43 per cent have been contacted by strangers online, and 21 per cent have had someone try to lure them into encrypted chat apps.

HOW THE AI WORKS

The phone’s centrepiece is HarmBlock AI, a first-of-its-kind safety tool that makes the device “Pornography Incompatible.”

Pre-trained on 22 million harmful images, the AI blocks nude and sexual content from being filmed, viewed, shared or saved.

Crucially, because HarmBlock AI is embedded at the operating system level, it cannot be bypassed or disabled by tech-savvy children.

The technology works in real time, intercepting harmful content before it can be stored or transmitted.

MORE THAN JUST FILTERS

Parents don’t just get peace of mind from the AI. The Fuse also includes built-in parental controls that allow families to manage app approvals, set daily usage limits, and schedule screen-free times such as bedtime or homework hours.

Location tracking with safe-zone alerts helps parents monitor their child's location, while contact whitelisting ensures kids only communicate with trusted individuals.

This approach turns the smartphone into a “stepping stone” - a device that introduces technology gradually and safely, rather than plunging children into the unfiltered online world.

THE NEXT FRONTIER IN DIGITAL PARENTING

Experts are describing the launch as a turning point in the conversation around online safety.

With cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and stranger danger topping the list of parental concerns, the Fuse offers a solution that combines high-level AI with day-to-day usability.

“Pornography Incompatible” is a bold claim. Still, for parents who’ve struggled with patchy filtering apps or blunt monitoring tools, the promise of a device where harmful content can’t get through could be revolutionary.

PRICE OF SMARTPHONE FOR KIDS

The HMD Fuse protected with HarmBlock+ is on sale at Harvey Norman and Officeworks, priced at $799.

HMD, best known globally as the maker of Nokia phones, has chosen Australia as one of the first markets for the new device, signalling the seriousness of the online safety challenges facing local families.

For parents caught between wanting to give their children independence and fearing what’s waiting for them online, the Fuse may prove to be the smartphone they’ve been hoping for - a device that connects, protects and grows with its user.