AI age checks at UK border spark warnings over child safety

https://www.courthousenews.com/ai-age-checks-at-uk-border-spark-warnings-over-child-safety/

Publish Date: 2026-06-01 10:59:00

Source Domain: www.courthousenews.com

Government’s AI Plan for Migrant Age Determination: The British government plans to test artificial intelligence (AI) for estimating the age of asylum-seekers without identification documents.
Criticism from Welfare Groups: Charities and child welfare groups criticize the AI approach, arguing it could misidentify vulnerable children as adults, leading to inadequate support.
Government’s Defense of AI Usage: The Home Office asserts that AI will assist officers in safeguarding children and managing the asylum system more effectively.
Potential Risks and Misjudgments: Critics argue that AI systems are not specifically designed to account for trauma, malnutrition, and the physical effects of long journeys experienced by child migrants.
Planned Rollout and Further Testing: The AI system will undergo additional testing before its expected deployment in 2027, following a $433,000 contract awarded by the Home Office.
Broader Expansion of AI in Government: The AI plan is part of a larger trend of increased AI use in government functions, including live facial recognition systems by police, raising concerns over regulation and oversight.
UK’s Lack of Specific Legislation for Facial Recognition: Unlike the EU, the UK lacks dedicated legislation governing the use of facial recognition technology, despite increasing deployment.
Concerns Over Safeguards: While the government believes AI will help distinguish between minors and adults, the risks of biased and erroneous assessments remain a significant concern, according to critics and the Home Office itself.