The UK will scan asylum-seekers’ faces for age checks—despite knowing the tech is flawed

The UK government intends to deploy facial age estimation (FAE) technology to assess the age of asylum seekers at its borders beginning in 2025. This marks the first known instance of FAE systems being used in this capacity. The technology scans individuals' faces to estimate their age, a process intended to assist in cases where asylum seekers lack official documentation. However, an internal UK government report, obtained through an investigation by WIRED and Lighthouse Reports in collaboration with The Independent, reveals significant flaws in the FAE systems. The report indicates that these systems frequently misclassify children as adults and exhibit serious bias issues. These inaccuracies could have severe consequences for asylum seekers, potentially leading to children being denied legal protections afforded to minors and being placed in adult detention facilities. The Home Office data suggests that migrants are the largest group subject to age assessments in 2025, highlighting the potential impact of these flawed technologies on a significant population. The investigation's findings raise substantial questions regarding the technology's reliability and its suitability for deployment in such critical decision-making processes.