The UK Will Scan Asylum-Seekers’ Faces for Age Checks—Despite Knowing the Tech Is Flawed
The UK government plans to use AI-powered facial age estimation technology to determine the ages of asylum seekers, a move that could be the first of its kind globally. An investigation revealed that internal government tests showed these systems are flawed, exhibiting significant bias against Sub-Saharan Africans and frequently misclassifying children as adults. This technology's inaccuracy, particularly for certain demographics, raises serious concerns about its use in high-stakes decisions that could impact asylum seekers' legal protections and detention status. AI
IMPACT Raises concerns about the ethical deployment of AI in immigration and border control, potentially impacting human rights and legal protections.