AI age checks for asylum seekers could create 'major safeguarding risks'

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has warned that plans to introduce artificial intelligence age estimation technology for asylum seekers could create significant safeguarding risks, after the government confirmed it intends to begin trials at a Dover processing centre next year.

The technology is expected to be trialled at Western Jet Foil in Dover from 2027, with the Home Office planning a wider rollout from mid-2027 if the pilot proves successful.

The announcement has prompted strong criticism from BASW, which argues that age assessments should remain the responsibility of trained social workers rather than being delegated to technology.

Prof. Sam Baron, Interim Chief Executive Officer of BASW, said: "Assessing the ages of migrants is a complex process which social workers are best placed to do. This important task should not be open to shortcuts through artificial intelligence, especially as the pitfalls of getting it wrong can lead to major safeguarding risks."

Age assessments are currently carried out by social workers on behalf of local authorities or through the Home Office's National Age Assessment Board when an asylum seeker is, or claims to be, under the age of 18. Assessments typically follow the Merton-compliant approach, involving detailed interviews and consideration of a young person's background, presentation and any available documentary evidence.

Prof. Baron argued that this holistic approach cannot be replicated by technology.

“Social workers are best placed to determine age as they take a ‘whole picture’ approach, whereas these other methods put forward by the government do not,” continued Baron. “A 16-year-old from Syria and an 18-year-old from Syria can look the same to AI, yet a social worker can consider their background and their life so far to identify maturity, and the best likelihood of their correct age.”

He added: “Instead of focusing on expensive technology, the Home Office should put the money back into local authorities to give social workers the best training available so they can do their jobs to the highest standard.”

BASW's concerns centre on the limitations of age estimation technologies and the potential consequences of inaccurate decisions. The association notes that previous proposals to use MRI scans and X-rays for age assessments were abandoned following opposition from professional bodies, including BASW and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

According to BASW, facial age estimation technology can be affected by factors such as trauma, malnutrition, illness and developmental delays, all of which may alter a young person's physical appearance. The organisation also argues that variations in ageing across different ethnic groups could affect the reliability of assessments.

Jo Schofield, Director of Immigration Social Work Services, said the proposal risked shifting the focus away from safeguarding responsibilities.

“This announcement undermines the seriousness of the work the Home Office should be doing. By framing this new approach as an effort to “catch adults falsely claiming to be children”, they reveal their bias. It positions the issue as a "hunt" for adults rather than a safeguarding responsibility towards children.”

The debate comes amid ongoing discussions about how best to determine the age of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children arriving in the UK. While concerns have frequently been raised about adults being incorrectly placed in children's settings, BASW argues that the greater risk lies in children being wrongly assessed as adults and placed in accommodation with fewer protections.

The association said existing safeguards and review mechanisms already exist to identify and rectify incorrect placements, but warned that an erroneous decision placing a child in an adult setting could have severe consequences.

BASW is now calling on the Home Office to engage directly with the social work profession before any wider implementation of the technology takes place. The organisation argues that any evaluation of the pilot should consider not only the performance of the technology itself, but also the views of practitioners with experience of conducting age assessments.

The association signalled it intends to continue challenging the proposals if social workers are not meaningfully involved in shaping future policy, warning that reliance on technology without proper consultation risks undermining professional expertise in a highly sensitive area of practice.