British government deploys artificial intelligence to verify migrants’ ages

The UK is starting to use artificial intelligence to determine the age of asylum seekers. The algorithm will analyze people’s faces to check whether they are actually minors. A pilot program will start this year, with full integration expected in 2026.

Angela Eagle, the Minister for Border Security and Asylum, told parliament that after years of research, the government had chosen the most effective approach — Facial Age Estimation. This technology, which works on the basis of millions of age-verified images, can accurately determine a person’s age without medical intervention.

Such a system will be particularly useful when a migrant is undocumented or claims to be under 18. According to Eagle, the technology is faster, cheaper and safer than MRIs or bone X-rays. Its results do not require medical staff and have predictable accuracy.

1. The idea of using technology in age checks was presented in the White Paper on Migration, published on May 12. Since then, the government has tested various options. Facial Age Estimation was recognized as the best, in part due to the work of the Age Assessment Advisory Committee (AESAC), which has been operating since 2021.

2. The new system works on the principle of machine learning – models are trained on data where the age is precisely known, and then used to analyze the faces of people with an unknown age. This method is already used by private companies to verify the age of online services, and it is developing rapidly.

The use of AI in the field of migration security is a strategic step for Britain. Facial Age Estimation has every chance of becoming a new standard, as it provides speed, accuracy and minimal intervention. At the same time, the government said that it leaves room for alternative technologies that may appear in the future. The final decision on full integration will be made after the testing is completed and the tender procedure is launched.