A three-day event aimed at finding solutions to reduce the waiting list of 138,052 asylum seekers has been criticized for wasting time on unproductive ideas
In an effort to reduce the backlog of 138,052 undecided asylum cases, the UK Home Office is organizing a three-day hackathon that will bring together academics, tech experts, civil servants, and business people to brainstorm innovative solutions using artificial intelligence. Fifteen multidisciplinary teams will compete to come up with the most effective ideas, with the winners presenting their solutions to a panel of judges and meeting with the prime minister and Rishi Sunak for a prize ceremony.
Taking inspiration from Silicon Valley’s problem-solving approach, a hackathon will be held in London and Peterborough in May to brainstorm ways to reduce the UK’s asylum backlog. Among the solutions discussed is the use of AI to transcribe and analyze the Home Office’s vast database of previous asylum interviews to identify patterns and trends. The three-day event will bring together academics, tech experts, civil servants, and business people to form multidisciplinary teams and compete for the most innovative ideas. The winners will have the opportunity to meet the prime minister and Rishi Sunak for a prize-giving ceremony.
Officials have promised that the sessions will delve into how natural language processing and AI could simplify the asylum backlog clearing process. However, the announcement of the event has caused concern among immigration lawyers and academics. They question how AI can align with the Home Office’s commitment to acknowledging the human aspect of every asylum claim. Currently, asylum processing officials must undergo “Face Behind the Case” training to reinforce the notion that they are dealing with individuals, not just statistics.
Some potential participants of the hackathon have declined the invitation, citing concerns or questioning their expertise. Others have expressed confusion but still plan to attend. Attendees are reportedly asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. The Home Office has addressed concerns by stating that asylum cases will always be decided by a person.
As the number of asylum seekers waiting for a decision on their cases continues to rise, the Home Office is struggling to fulfill its commitment to clear the backlog of 92,000 legacy cases before December 2023. This has prompted a search for new approaches to tackling the issue, as the backlog poses a significant challenge for both the government and the individuals waiting for clarity on their status. The Refugee Council reported in November that over 40,000 asylum seekers had been waiting between one and three years for a decision on their claim.
For decades, governments have employed digital tools to expedite decision-making, and immigration campaigners have expressed their support for any advancements that accelerate the processing of asylum claims. However, asylum specialists have raised doubts about the wisdom of using AI to eliminate the backlog when a more direct solution could be to hire more asylum case workers. While the head count increased year on year, it decreased from 1,333 in January to 1,281 in March, with low morale and high staff turnover being persistent issues.
Colin Yeo, an immigration lawyer, suggested that accepting the claims of Afghans, Eritreans, Sudanese, and Syrians immediately could be the quickest way to eliminate about a third of the backlog, as 98% or more of them are likely to be recognized as refugees eventually.
According to a spokesperson from the Home Office, the government is aiming to address the asylum backlog by increasing the number of asylum caseworkers to 2,500 and simplifying interviews and paperwork. However, they acknowledge that more needs to be done, which is why they are collaborating with data scientists from the public and private sectors to explore additional innovative solutions to help clear the backlog.
