We must not leave child asylum seekers’ futures in the hands of AI

We must ensure that child asylum seekers who are being assessed for their age are protected from unsafe and inaccurate facial recognition technology. 

Age assessment of child asylum seekers is a complex and sensitive process – one which could be the difference between critical support like a social worker, appropriate housing, access to education and legal aid, and nothing.

When a child’s age is wrongly assessed, it can have catastrophic consequences. Exceptionally vulnerable children could be sent to live alone and unchecked with other adults.

This is an enormous safeguarding concern, and can lead to serious mental health problems for the child, including anxiety, isolation and suicidal thoughts.

That’s why we’re deeply concerned about the Government’s plan to introduce AI facial recognition to speed up the age assessment process, which risks causing serious harm due to inaccuracy and bias.

“I was frightened. My head was just all over the place. I just wanted to end my life.”

Jean was only 16 when he was wrongly assessed as being 26 – a full decade older than his actual age. He was housed in adult accommodation. As a result of his incorrect assessment, he became isolated and suicidal.

"I look 10 years older because I am taller, that was the reason they gave," said Jean, who had his age officially corrected years later.

"They don't believe you when you come and tell your story. I was so desperate. I really needed support. Because of one officer who made the decision, that changed my whole life."

The risks are clear: outsourcing such a nuanced and difficult process to AI could see more children like Jean come to serious harm.

Because AI is trained on data, it can also learn to reinforce racist stereotypes and other problematic prejudices that could ultimately harm asylum seekers.

"In addition to subjecting vulnerable children and young people to a dehumanising process that could undermine their privacy and other human rights, we don't actually know if it works," said senior AI researcher Anna Bacciarelli.

The asylum system must not be the testing ground for what are currently deeply flawed AI tools operating with minimal transparency and safeguards.

In July, Britain said it would integrate facial age estimation tech in 2026 to help assess the ages of migrants claiming to be under 18, especially those arriving on small boats from France.

Rights groups argue facial recognition tech is dehumanising and does not provide accurate age estimations, a sensitive process that should be done by trained experts."

The asylum system must not be the testing ground for what are currently deeply flawed AI tools operating with minimal transparency and safeguards," said Sile Reynolds, head of asylum advocacy at charity Freedom from Torture.

For Jean, now 30, the wrong age assessment led to isolation and suicidal thoughts.

"I was frightened. My head was just all over the place. I just wanted to end my life," said Jean, who was granted asylum in 2018.