UK Government to Deploy AI Age Estimation Tool at Borders in 2027

Summary

The UK Home Office has awarded a contract to Akhter Computers Ltd to develop and deploy an artificial intelligence age estimation tool that will be rolled out at the UK's borders starting in mid-2027. The technology analyzes photographs of migrants to estimate their age, with the stated goal of identifying adult migrants attempting to fraudulently claim to be children seeking asylum. According to Home Office data, 43% of migrants claiming to be children were identified as adults in the year ending March 2026, making the government's stated need for improved age verification procedures clear.

The three-year contract is valued at £322,000 and represents the government's response to years of increased asylum claims and small boat crossings. The Home Office says initial testing indicated "promising performance and accuracy," and aims to use the technology to prevent adult migrants from accessing enhanced legal protections and support services reserved for unaccompanied minors. Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris stated that the technology will help identify those "gaming the system" and ensure "those who deserve support and protection are given it."

However, the announcement has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Human Rights Watch has urged the government to scrap the scheme, characterizing it as "unproven technology" that risks misidentifying children and denying them critical protections to which they are entitled under law. An independent review by the UK immigration inspector previously noted that age assessments are inherently fallible, with documented cases of children being wrongly classified as adults—a concern highlighted as particularly serious when vulnerable minors are denied legal protections.

• Human Rights Watch warns the unproven technology risks denying vulnerable children critical legal protections
• Technology uses facial analysis to estimate age from photographs taken at the border