Beginning next year, the UK government will introduce artificial intelligence software at its borders to determine the ages of migrants, specifically targeting adults who falsely claim to be children.
The Home Office has awarded a £322,000 contract to Akhter Computers Ltd to refine and implement this facial analysis technology, which is scheduled for its first live trial at the Western Jet Foil processing centre in Dover.
Government officials argue that the tool will prevent individuals from circumventing the system and redirecting limited resources intended for vulnerable minors.
According to Home Office figures, out of 6,400 migrants who claimed to be children in the year ending March 2026, approximately 43 percent were determined to be adults through existing assessment methods.
Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Alex Norris, stated that the technology will ensure those who misuse the system are quickly identified and processed, while still protecting those truly in need.
However, the initiative faces significant opposition from organizations like Human Rights Watch. Senior researcher Anna Bacciarelli labeled the plan a deeply flawed and potentially cruel approach, noting that the technology is largely unproven in this context and risks undermining the legal protections guaranteed to refugee children.
While currently, Border Force officials rely on documents and physical observations to estimate age, the AI is intended to serve as a supplementary tool to assist staff when there is uncertainty regarding an applicant’s age.
