The UK Home Office has awarded a £322,000 contract to Harlow-based Akhter Computers Ltd to develop and test artificial intelligence technology aimed at estimating the age of asylum seekers by analyzing photographs taken at the border [1, 2, 3]. The system is intended to help identify adult migrants falsely claiming to be children during asylum processing and to support existing age assessment procedures [1, 2, 3].
Initial trials of the AI age estimation system have shown promising performance and accuracy, the Home Office said [1, 2, 3]. The technology is planned to be fully rolled out and used in live cases at UK border points starting in mid-2027, with further testing continuing until then [1, 2, 3]. Live trial use is expected to begin at locations such as the Western Jet Foil processing centre in Dover [3].
In the year ending March 2026, more than 6,400 migrants claiming to be children underwent age assessments, with 43% found to be adults [1, 2]. An independent UK government immigration inspectorate report criticized current age assessment processes for misclassifying adults and children, posing safeguarding risks [1, 3].
Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said adults making false age claims have exploited the system and diverted resources away from vulnerable children. "That is why we are rolling out AI technology to put a stop to this, ensuring those who game the system are identified, detained and removed without delay," he said [2]. Norris added adult migrants falsely claiming to be children have taken vital support away from at-risk children [3].
Human Rights Watch and other groups have criticized the AI tool as unproven technology that risks undermining protections for vulnerable children [1, 3]. However, the UK government says it will use the AI to strengthen age assessments and safeguard genuine child asylum seekers.
The UK first announced plans to use AI facial age estimation to improve age assessments in 2025 [1]. The next major step is the planned mid-2027 rollout following continued testing throughout the next year [1, 2, 3].
