AI tool will lead to more child refugees being treated as adults, charity warns
Summary
Rights groups and children’s charities warn that the UK government’s plan to use AI facial age-detection technology for migrants may wrongly classify children as adults. This could expose vulnerable children, especially those from African countries, to adult detention and unsafe living conditions.Key Facts
- The UK government plans to use facial age-estimation AI to check the ages of arriving migrants.
- Rights groups say the technology is flawed and can incorrectly identify children as adults.
- Black children from conflict zones like Sudan and Somalia are particularly at risk.
- The Home Office admits the AI system could have an error margin of up to 30 months.
- Over 755 children were mistakenly treated as adults on arrival in 2025, according to official data.
- The AI system was developed by Cognitec, a German facial recognition company.
- Investigations found the system tends to overestimate the ages of minors from sub-Saharan Africa.
- Experts warn trauma and harsh journeys can make children look older, affecting AI accuracy.
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