The UK Will Scan Asylum-Seekers’ Faces for Age Checks—Despite Knowing the Tech Is Flawed

Live updates

1. -2489s ago

   UK Government Introduces Immigration and Asylum Bill

   Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has detailed an Immigration and Asylum Bill to protect the asylum system. The reforms face a backlash from critics who describe the limits on asylum claims as a quick fix. Some reports suggest these changes may create long-term chaos.

   What's confirmed:

   • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out an Immigration and Asylum Bill.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Critics claim proposed limits on asylum claims are a quick fix that will create long-term chaos.
   confidence 80%
2. 34d ago

   UK to use AI facial scans for asylum seeker age checks

   The UK government is introducing facial age estimation technology at borders. The system uses artificial intelligence to predict the ages of asylum seekers. This represents a shift away from traditional age determination methods.

   What's confirmed:

   • The UK government will implement facial age estimation technology for asylum seekers.
   • The system uses artificial intelligence to scan faces and predict ages.
   confidence 100%
3. 36d ago

   UK to Deploy AI Facial Age Estimation for Asylum Seekers by 2027

   The UK government will implement facial age estimation technology at borders to identify adults posing as minors. The system is intended as an additional tool that will not replace human judgment. Critics warn that racial bias and technical flaws could lead to children being placed in adult detention.

   What's confirmed:

   • The UK Home Office plans to use facial age estimation technology to verify the ages of asylum seekers.
   • The technology is scheduled for rollout in 2027.
   • The Home Office states the tool is an additional resource and will not replace or overrule human judgment.
   • Human rights groups and charities warn that the system may misclassify children as adults.
   • The government intends to use the tool to identify adults posing as minors.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • An internal report found a 13.5-year-old girl was misclassified as 18.
   • The technology particularly impacts Sub-Saharan African migrants.
   • The system is prone to discriminatory errors affecting women.
   confidence 90%
4. 38d ago

   UK to Deploy Facial Age Estimation for Asylum Seekers Despite Known Flaws

   The UK Home Office is implementing AI facial scanning to determine the ages of asylum seekers at borders. Internal tests and government advisers have warned that the technology is unreliable and contains racial bias. The government intends to use the tool as an additional resource to identify adults attempting to game the system.

   What's confirmed:

   • The UK government is using facial recognition software to estimate the ages of asylum seekers at borders.
   • Internal Home Office tests show the technology is prone to significant errors.
   • The Home Office admitted that facial age estimation performance can vary based on skin tone and ethnicity.
   • More than 60 groups, including the EFF, have urged the UK to stop using the technology.
   • The Home Office describes the tool as an additional resource for border checks.

   Still unconfirmed:

   • Government advisers described the tool as hideously flawed.
   • The technology can wrongly identify a 14-year-old as an adult.
   • Other countries are likely to follow the UK in using this technology.
   confidence 90%