Inaccurate age assessments cause profound and lasting harm. We see this all too often with the young people HIAS+JCORE supports: the current system frequently leads to instability, uncertainty, and human suffering.
So it’s welcome that the Government is scrapping deeply flawed and intrusive pseudoscientific methods. Doing so is an important step in the right direction.
But we’re alarmed by yesterday’s announcement that AI tools will be used instead. The usage of AI in such a sensitive and critical context raises serious concerns. These systems are proven to be inaccurate and are known to reproduce racist attitudes, profiling, and bias.
Replacing one unreliable process for another is not progress. Instead, it is a shameful betrayal of the young people who need safety and security from this country: they deserve dignity and welcome – and far better than the current culture of disbelief.
Our values compel us not to wrong or oppress those seeking protection. We hope that the Government will rethink this profoundly worrying policy.