Age assurance under the Online Safety Act should work effectively for all users regardless of their age or other characteristics.

Government, Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office have all been clear that age assurance methods should be safe, proportionate and secure, with services obliged to minimise the use of personal data, only collecting and retaining it where necessary and proportionate for age assurance purposes. Organisations failing to comply with these requirements may be subject to regulatory enforcement action.

Ofcom’s recently published report on age assurance found that services have demonstrated a strong awareness of privacy and data protection requirements.

The government takes the threats of cyber-attacks and data breaches very seriously, which is why the ICO has the power to investigate any concerns raised about the misuse or mishandling of data. It can issue enforcement notices and substantial fines where organisations are found to be in breach of their obligations.

Organisations are required under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act to keep personal data secure and process it fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Whilst the law does not set specific time limits on how long personal data can be held, it stipulates that it cannot be kept for longer than needed.

The government takes the threats of cyber-attacks and data breaches very seriously, which is why the ICO has the power to investigate any concerns raised about the misuse or mishandling of data. It can issue enforcement notices and substantial fines where organisations are found to be in breach of their obligations.

Organisations are required under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act to keep personal data secure and process it fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Whilst the law does not set specific time limits on how long personal data can be held, it stipulates that it cannot be kept for longer than needed.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Our published factsheet - Facial age estimation - GOV.UK- explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.

Assessing age is a complex task, and there is no single or a combination of techniques that are able to determine chronological age with precision.

Previously, the Department explored other potential scientific and technological methods, such as the use of X-ray and MRI technology. However, at this time FAE offers the potential to give much quicker results than other methods, with no requirement for any intrusive or invasive medical procedure. Our published factsheet, Facial age estimation - GOV.UK, explains how the technology works, and how the Department is exploring its use.

No final decisions have been made as to how FAE will work operationally, including how results will be displayed and weighted. The Home Office is planning a series of trials and testing throughout 2026 which will continue to inform policy, design and operational development. Subject to the results of the testing and trials taking place throughout 2026, FAE is planned to be rolled out from 2027. Full guidance will be provided and published to ensure a consistent approach to FAE and appropriate weighting of the results.

The Home Office has recently announced that the procurement process for an FAE algorithm has concluded, and a new contract has been awarded to Akhter Computers Ltd, with Cognitec as sub-contractor. The awarded algorithm was trained on the supplier’s proprietary dataset consisting of millions of facial images collected over several decades, covering a broad range of ages, ethnicities, and genders. The core model was not trained on Home Office operational data.

Separately, the Home Office has used industry algorithms to test FAE performance against approximately 2.5 million operational images with a known age across different ethnicities, genders and age ranges, and showed, indicating promising performance and accuracy. Internal testing and trialling is ongoing using the newly procured algorithm. Demographic differentials and the public sector equality duty have been a crucial part of this testing and ongoing policy development.