The Home Office has announced that artificial intelligence will be used to estimate the age of asylum seekers from next year, saying the tool will make it easier to identify adult migrants 'attempting to game the system'.
The new system, which is expected to be rolled out in 2025, will analyse biometric and other data to provide an estimated age for individuals whose age is in doubt. Currently, caseworkers rely on interviews and physical examinations, which critics say are often unreliable and invasive.
“The Home Office will use AI from next year to estimate the ages of asylum seekers, aiming to prevent adults from posing as minors.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the technology would help ensure that children are treated appropriately and that adults claiming to be minors do not receive protections intended for those under 18. 'We have a duty to safeguard vulnerable people, but we also need to prevent abuse of the system,' the spokesperson said.
The move comes amid a sharp increase in asylum applications in the UK, with many arrivals lacking documents or providing conflicting information about their age. In 2023, more than 67,000 asylum claims were made, and local councils have reported difficulties in accommodating unaccompanied minors.
Critics, including refugee charities and some MPs, have raised concerns about the accuracy and ethics of using AI for age assessment. They argue that algorithms may be biased and could lead to children being incorrectly classified as adults, putting them at risk. However, the Home Office insists that the AI will be used alongside existing methods and will undergo rigorous testing.
In Scotland, where asylum seeker numbers have risen significantly, the Scottish Refugee Council has called for transparency. A spokesperson said: 'Any technology that determines a person's age must be proven accurate and fair. We are watching these developments closely.' In Wales and Northern Ireland, similar concerns have been voiced by local authorities.
The Home Office plans to pilot the system in select regions before a national rollout. A consultation with charities and legal experts is also scheduled for early 2025.
For affected individuals, the change means that from next year, age disputes could be resolved by AI rather than a human caseworker. Asylum seekers will be asked to provide biometric data – such as hand scans or dental X-rays – which the algorithm will assess. Those identified as adults will be processed through adult accommodation and support systems.
The announcement has reignited debate about the balance between safeguarding and efficiency. Human rights groups warn that the technology could lead to more detentions of genuine children. The Home Office, however, maintains that the tool is needed to 'protect the integrity of the asylum system'.