The United Kingdom is set to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) facial recognition tool to determine the age of asylum seekers starting next year, aiming to identify adult migrants posing as children. A software company has secured a contract to develop and test this technology, which will analyze photographs taken at the border to estimate a person’s age. The Home Office states this measure will help identify individuals attempting to circumvent the system, citing promising initial test results.
Context of Age Assessments
Unaccompanied child migrants are typically processed through the care system rather than the asylum system, a distinction that can influence their ability to remain in the country. This new technology comes in response to a significant increase in individuals crossing the English Channel in small boats and claiming asylum.
In the year ending June 2025, the UK received 111,084 asylum claims, a 14% rise from the previous year. Data from the year ending March 2026 revealed that over 6,400 migrants claiming to be children underwent age assessments at the border, with 43% determined to be adults. A UK government inspector’s report last year highlighted instances where adults were mistakenly identified as children, and vice versa, underscoring the challenges in accurate age determination without a foolproof method.
Rollout and Technological Development
The government announced plans to explore AI facial recognition for this purpose last year. This week, Harlow-based IT supplier Akhter Computers Ltd was awarded a £322,000 contract over three years to develop and test the technology. The software is scheduled for a full rollout in mid-2027.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, stated that adults making false age claims have exploited the system, diverting support from vulnerable children. He asserted that the AI technology will ensure those who
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