The agreement, The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, requires signatories to implement or maintain measures ensuring that AI usage aligns with human rights, democracy and the law.
As a result, these measures are intended to protect the public from inherent risks in AI models, like biased training data and potential misuse, such as the spread of misinformation.
Meanwhile, current signatories include Andora, the EU, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, the UK and the USA.
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More countries are also expected to join, including 39 other Council of Europe member states and nine non-member states participating in the treaty negotiations.
These countries include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Japan, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.
In a statement, the UK’s Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Artificial Intelligence can radically improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of public services, and turbocharge economic growth.
“However, we must not let AI shape us – we must shape AI. This convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law.”
Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić continued: “We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them.
“The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text - the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and ensured that it benefits from multiple and expert perspectives.
“The Framework Convention is an open treaty with a potentially global reach. I hope that these will be the first of many signatures and that they will be followed quickly by ratifications so that the treaty can enter into force as soon as possible.”
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