The UK Will Scan Asylum-Seekers’ Faces for Age Checks—Despite Knowing the Tech Is Flawed

Matt Burgess· Jun 18, 2026 · 6:00 AM UTC ·9 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 106 views

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The UK government plans to introduce facial age estimation technology to determine the age of asylum seekers, despite internal tests showing the technology is flawed and prone to errors. The technology, which uses AI to scan faces and estimate age, has been found to regularly mistake children for adults and contain serious bias problems. The move has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the technology and its potential impact on vulnerable individuals, particularly Sub-Saharan Africans who are the largest group of migrants subject to age assessments in the UK.

Key facts

▪The UK government will introduce facial age estimation technology to determine the age of asylum seekers starting next year.
▪Internal tests of the technology have shown that it regularly mistakes children for adults and contains serious bias problems, particularly against Sub-Saharan Africans.
▪The technology has been found to be less accurate for female Sub-Saharan Africans, with an average error of 4.6 years, which could lead to incorrect age assessments and loss of legal protections.

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Original publisher	WIRED
Canonical URL	https://www.wired.com/story/facial-age-estimate-uk-asylum-seekers/
Publication time	Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0000
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Matt BurgessMaddy VarnerMay BulmanSecurityJun 18, 2026 2:00 AMThe UK Will Scan Asylum-Seekers’ Faces for Age Checks—Despite Knowing the Tech Is FlawedInternal Home Office tests of age-verification technology show the risks of life-altering errors. It’s moving forward anyway.Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyAge verification is consuming the internet. From social media bans in Australia to porn restrictions in half of US states, for many having to prove their age to access websites is becoming an everyday requirement.

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