The UK government is set to introduce facial age estimation technology to determine the age of asylum seekers—a move that could have serious implications given the tech's known flaws.

According to a report by WIRED and Lighthouse Reports, the systems used are often inaccurate and biased, particularly against Sub-Saharan Africans. This raises concerns about the fairness and reliability of such high-stakes technology.

The decision comes as governments worldwide increasingly adopt surveillance technologies that impact vulnerable populations, often without their full understanding or consent.

For asylum seekers like 13-year-old girls, being misclassified could mean losing legal protections meant for children. The Home Office data shows the system can be off by an average of 4.6 years for female Sub-Saharan Africans, a disparity that could have life-changing consequences.