A touch screen device and method of controlling the device wherein the device responds to user touch screen inputs only when the device is unlocked and the user's visual gaze is directed at the device screen. The device employs a front-facing camera and gaze detection technology to determine whether the user is looking directly at the device display screen. If the user is not looking at the screen, touch input commands are ignored by the device, even if the device is unlocked, thereby preventing unintended application actions due to incidental screen contact. The gaze detection interlock feature may be enabled or disabled through configuration settings. The gaze detection interlock feature, if enabled, may respond only to the primary device user's face and visual gaze, or may respond when any person's visual gaze is directed to the device screen.