The UK is trialling facial-age estimation to support asylum-seeker age assessments. This page breaking down how the tech is used, its limits, safeguards, and what researchers, charities, and policymakers are saying. Below you’ll find common questions people search for, with clear, concise answers.
AI facial-age estimation is being tested to support age assessments for arriving asylum seekers. Officials say it will assist staff by providing an age estimate, but it will not replace traditional checks or social-worker judgments. The technology has limits: it can be biased, may misread young-looking adults, and relies on the quality and context of facial data. The system is described as an aid, with definitive judgments still requiring trained professionals.
Safeguards include using AI as a supplementary tool rather than a sole decision-maker, ongoing staff training, and oversight by safeguarding professionals. Civil society groups warn about bias against certain skin tones, ages, or unaccompanied minors, and call for strong data protections, transparent auditing, and independent review processes. The rollout notes that welfare considerations and human-led checks remain central.
Earlier age assessment processes have faced scrutiny for inconsistency and reliability concerns. Data cited in reports indicate a notable share of initial assessments classified individuals as adults, highlighting the potential consequences for asylum eligibility and protections. Critics emphasize the need for accurate medical, social, and narrative evidence alongside any AI input.
Advocacy groups express caution, warning of bias, safeguarding risks, and the potential harm to unaccompanied or vulnerable migrants if AI is over-relied upon. They generally call for human-led evaluations, robust safeguards, transparency, and independent oversight rather than a speed-forward approach that could reduce protections.
The government has contracted Akhter Computers to develop AI tools for age estimation, with full rollout planned for 2027. The current phase focuses on trials at the Western Jet Foil reception centre, aiming to support, not replace, existing checks. This timeline suggests a staged approach with continued evaluation and adjustments based on results and safeguards.
If you’re involved in an asylum case, consider asking how the AI estimate was generated, what data was used, what safeguards are in place against bias, how the final decision will be reviewed by a human, and what recourse exists if there’s disagreement with the AI result. Request documentation of the process and independent auditing where available.
Currently, immigration officers conduct age assessments when a claimant's age is disputed