SafeToNet, founded in 2013, is committed to safeguarding children from online harms such as bullying, self-harm, sexual abuse, and exposure to harmful content. Central to its mission is HarmBlock, an innovative AI technology designed to prevent harmful actions and content directly on mobile devices. HarmBlock operates at the source, blocking harmful material—such as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)—before it can appear on the screen. It also prevents cameras on devices from capturing inappropriate or exploitative images involving children. This powerful tool works across the entire device, ensuring universal protection regardless of which apps are being used.

 

SafeToNet achieves this through partnerships with mobile phone companies by providing a software development kit (SDK) that is embedded into the phone’s operating system. This integration ensures that HarmBlock is seamlessly updated alongside regular OS maintenance updates, making it a robust and ever-evolving layer of protection that does not rely on standalone apps or user intervention.

 

One of SafeToNet’s unique advantages lies in its access to CSAM data, which is critical for training effective AI models but is otherwise highly restricted due to its illegality. While most organizations cannot access this material, SafeToNet collaborates with leading NGOs in Europe, who provide this data under strict legal and ethical safeguards. Even SafeToNet’s engineers never see the data, as it is managed with the highest security standards. This exclusive access enables HarmBlock to be trained effectively, ensuring it can accurately identify and prevent harmful actions involving CSAM.

 

Privacy is foundational to SafeToNet’s approach. Once the AI is trained in the cloud, it is compressed into a small file embedded directly into the device. This design ensures that all processing occurs locally on the phone, with no data ever leaving the device. Users are protected without their activity being tracked, stored, or accessible to anyone, eliminating any possibility of their phone activity being misused.

 

By delivering its technology directly through mobile phone operating systems, maintaining privacy at every step, and leveraging unparalleled access to critical training data, SafeToNet provides a powerful, seamless, and ethical solution to protect children from online harm.