The UK government plans to introduce facial age estimation technology in 2025 to determine the age of asylum seekers arriving at its borders. This technology, which uses AI to analyze facial features and suggest age, will be utilized to assist in cases where asylum seekers do not have documentation proving their age. Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of this technology, as an investigation by WIRED and Lighthouse Reports revealed that the systems often misclassify children as adults, potentially leading to the removal of legal protections for minors. The internal report from the UK government highlights serious bias issues within the technology, prompting questions about its appropriateness for such critical applications.
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UK Government to Implement Facial Age Estimation for Asylum Seekers
The UK government is set to implement facial age estimation technology for asylum seekers in 2025, aiming to assist in age verification for those without documentation. However, concerns about the technology's accuracy and bias have been raised, as it has been shown to misclassify children as adults, which could have significant legal implications.
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The UK will scan asylum-seekers’ faces for age checks—despite knowing the tech is flawed
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UK Government to Implement Facial Age Estimation for Asylum Seekers