UK Visa Streaming traffic light system

Since 2015, the UK Home Office has filtered visa applications using an algorithmically-driven 'Visa Streaming' traffic light system. 

The system assigns a red, amber or green risk level to each applicant. People assigned a red risk level were more likely to be refused. 

The UK government stopped using the system in August 2020 after a legal challenge accused it of prioritising 'speedy boarding for white people' for the most favoured countries in the system.

Transparency and accountability 🙈

The UK Visa Streaming traffic light system is seen to suffer from several transparency and accountability limitations:

• Decision-making processes. The system operated with little transparency regarding its decision-making criteria. The Home Office has not disclosed detailed information about the factors the algorithm considers, making it difficult to understand how decisions are reached.

• Risk assessment criteria. It was revealed that the algorithm included a secret list of "suspect" nationalities, which were subjected to higher scrutiny. This lack of transparency about the criteria used for risk assessment has raised concerns about fairness and discrimination.

• Limited public information. The Home Office provided minimal public information about the streaming tool, its design, and its operational processes. This lack of openness prevents external scrutiny and understanding of the system's functioning.

• Legal compliance. There were concerns about whether the Home Office sought legal advice to ensure the algorithm complied with the UK's Equality Act. The absence of such due diligence questions the accountability of the Home Office in implementing the tool.

• Legal challenges. The system faced legal challenges from organizations like the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) and Foxglove, which argued that the algorithm was unlawful and discriminatory. The Home Office's decision to suspend and redesign the tool ahead of a judicial review highlights the lack of robust accountability mechanisms in place.

• Inadequate oversight. The Home Office's assurance regime did not adequately account for the danger of confirmation bias, where decision-makers might look for evidence to confirm existing prejudices rather than objectively assessing each application.