UK rolls out border/analog AI facial recognition technology
The UK government is pressing ahead with plans to introduce artificial intelligence technology at the border to help identify asylum seekers falsely claiming to be children.The system, expected to be rolled out in 2027, will estimate a person’s age by analyzing facial images taken during immigration checks.
Officials say the technology aims to support existing age assessment procedures and improve the identification of adults who claim to be minors, the BBC reported.The Home Office has awarded a contract to Harlow-based Akhter Computers Ltd to further develop and test the software before deployment.
The move follows concerns about the accuracy of age assessments for unaccompanied migrants. Government figures show that more than 6,400 individuals claiming to be children underwent age assessments in the year to March 2026, of whom 43% were later determined to be adults.Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said adults falsely claiming to be children had diverted resources away from those who truly needed protection.Norris said, according to what was reported by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “That is why we are rolling out artificial intelligence technology to put an end to this, and ensure that those who manipulate the system are identified, detained and removed without delay.”The project is expected to cost £322,000 over three years.The Home Office says early trials of the AI system have shown promising levels of accuracy, and further testing is planned before the technology is introduced at UK border points.
