The UK Home Office has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on automated translation and transcription for use in Asylum & Human Rights Operations, Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, Visas & Immigration, and Passports & Citizenship.

This RFI will shape future procurement decisions affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

This petition isn’t about rejecting technology. Professional translators work with automated translation (NMT and generative AI) every day. We understand both its potential and its limits, and that’s exactly why we’re raising the alarm.

The problems

The RFI accepts responses from suppliers only – that is, technology vendors.

Professional translators, their representative bodies (e.g. CIOL, ITI), academic researchers, refugee organisations and immigration/asylum lawyers have been excluded from formally contributing to this consultation.

As it stands, suppliers are being asked to self-report on their products, with no independent verification by qualified language professionals.

The RFI initially referred to the wrong ISO standard (17100:2015). That reference has since been removed, but the correct standard (ISO 18587:2017) has not been added in its place. As a result, the only standard suppliers now need to comply with is ISO 27001:2022, which governs information security.

In other words, the RFI now safeguards data, not meaning.

 
The evidence

Academic research from the University of Bristol, UCL-CenTraS and CTS Surrey, among other institutions, identifies serious risks in using automated translation for high-stakes domains – particularly for lower-resource languages common in immigration and asylum cases.

In the United States, automated translation in well-documented asylum cases has already led to what have been described as “insane errors”, with real human consequences.

 
The stakes

Mistranslated testimony can mean failed asylum claims and deportation to danger.
Mistranslated visa documents can mean separated families.
Mistranslated enforcement documents can affect people’s liberty.

These are just some of the life-changing, sometimes irreversible situations that can arise.

 
What we require

Consultation with all relevant stakeholders before any procurement decisions are made – including CIOL, ITI, other translation associations, academic researchers and legal experts.

Independent professional verification of supplier claims – not self-assessment.

Mandated involvement of qualified translators – automation can assist, but professionals must lead.

Published impact assessments on vulnerable populations before any use of automated translation.
 
Translators are agile, adaptable and experienced in integrating technology safely.

We also understand the political pressure to reduce backlogs, but speed without accuracy risks injustice.

🕔 The RFI closes on Friday, 31 October 2025 – act now.

Using automated translation in areas such as immigration and asylum puts people’s lives, liberty and family unity at stake.

If the Home Office is serious about protecting human rights, it must listen to those who work with language and law every day.

✍️ Sign if you agree.

Photo credit: Markus Spiske (Unsplash)