The UK Will Scan Asylum-Seekers’ Faces for Age Checks—Despite Knowing the Tech Is Flawed
The UK government plans to implement AI-driven facial age estimation to assess asylum seekers at its borders. An investigation reveals that the technology is prone to errors and bias, potentially leading to children being incorrectly classified as adults and denied legal protections.
Why it matters
The deployment of flawed AI in high-stakes immigration settings raises significant ethical and human rights concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable populations.
Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Age 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 . But one of the key technologies underpinning many of these age checks is about to seep into the offline world—with potentially life-changing consequences for people having their age predicted by AI.
The article focuses on the negative societal impacts and potential human rights violations of government surveillance technology.
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