Biometric Age Estimation for Migrants Sparks UK Rights Worries

Published Date : 10/21/2025 

Rights groups and social work experts express worries about the UK's plan to use biometric facial age estimation for underage migrants, citing potential inaccuracies and dehumanizing effects. 

Rights groups and social work experts are expressing concerns about the UK’s plans to introduce biometric facial age estimation for vetting underage migrants arriving in the country.

Using “flawed” AI tools could prove dehumanizing and may not provide accurate age estimations, organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Freedom from Torture argue. The result could be placing children in adult asylum hotels without safeguards or adequate support.

“Assessing the ages of migrants is a complex process which should not be open to shortcuts,” Luke Geoghegan, head of policy and research at the British Association of Social Workers, told Context. “This should never be compromised for perceived quicker results through artificial intelligence.”

Last week, the UK Home Office closed a £1.3 million tender (US$1.7 million) for procuring an algorithm that can accurately predict the age of a person without verifiable identity documentation. According to plans laid out earlier this year, age estimation technology should be integrated into government work by 2026.

The tender is part of a broader initiative to tackle the “small boat” migrant crisis: Over 33,500 people have arrived on UK soil in small boats since the start of 2025, the highest year on record. Among them, many are children who are entitled to support, especially unaccompanied children who automatically receive care and accommodation from local authorities.

Currently, age assessments are done by humans, but this has opened space for mistakes. Research by the Helen Bamber Foundation has found that some 680 children were wrongly assessed to be adults in 2024, 56 percent of the total cases that were re-assessed. On the flipside, statistics from the Home Office show that an identical percentage of migrants who claimed to be children on arrival in the UK turned out to be 18 or older.

The difficulties in assessing age, especially when different ethnicities are involved, have allowed adults to pose as children and exploit the UK asylum system, according to the government. In July, Minister of State Dame Angela Eagle told the UK Parliament that facial age estimation is likely “the most cost-effective option to pursue” for improving age assessment. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is biometric facial age estimation?

A: Biometric facial age estimation is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to predict a person's age based on facial features. It is being considered by the UK government to assess the ages of migrants.

Q: Why are rights groups concerned about this technology?

A: Rights groups are concerned that the technology could be flawed and dehumanizing, leading to inaccurate age assessments and potentially placing children in adult asylum facilities without proper support.

Q: What is the current method for age assessment in the UK?

A: Currently, age assessments are conducted by human professionals. However, this method has been known to make mistakes, leading to children being wrongly assessed as adults and vice versa.

Q: What is the 'small boat' migrant crisis?

A: The 'small boat' migrant crisis refers to the significant increase in the number of people arriving in the UK via small boats, particularly since 2025. Many of these arrivals are children who are entitled to support and care from local authorities.

Q: What is the Home Office's plan for integrating age estimation technology?

A: The Home Office plans to integrate age estimation technology into government work by 2026, as part of a broader initiative to address the 'small boat' migrant crisis and improve the accuracy of age assessments. 

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