UK Home Office Accused of Using 'AI Hallucinated' Information in Asylum Case Refusal

Asylum Claim Refusal Based on Questionable Evidence

A senior judge has indicated that the UK Home Office may have relied on "AI hallucinated" information when refusing an asylum claim. The case involved a Moroccan woman and her child seeking asylum due to fears of violence from her husband. The Home Office cited a "country policy information note" (CPIN) to assert Morocco was safe for her, but this document could not be located.

Judicial Scrutiny of Missing Document

After an initial appeal was rejected, a more senior judge in the upper tribunal raised concerns about the unlocated document. On July 14, the judge stated, "It appears that no such CPIN has ever existed," and noted that the Home Office's country policy and information team could not confirm its existence. The judge described relying on a non-existent document as "analogous to relying on bogus evidence."

Potential AI Hallucination Identified

The judge observed that the Home Office's refusal letter "bears hallmarks consistent with the use of artificial intelligence." He suggested that references to the specific country information note might be a result of an AI "hallucination," which would represent a serious failing by the Home Office. This highlights potential issues with AI integration into sensitive governmental processes without proper oversight.

Home Office Response and Document Discrepancy

When questioned, the Home Office initially provided a link to an archive where the document was not found. Subsequently, they produced an internal guidance document, a "country information note" (CIN), which was not disclosed in court. No CPIN on Morocco has been published since 2017, and the Home Office's references shifted between the internal CIN and the authoritative CPIN during the case.