Breakthrough in Global AI Regulation: Council of Europe adopts first binding treaty on technology

On Friday, foreign ministers from the 46 countries of the Council of Europe reached an agreement on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) that upholds human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. This marks the first binding international treaty on technology.

The agreement, known as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, outlines provisions for national laws to ensure transparency, oversight, and accountability in the use of AI systems. Signatories are also committed to preventing discrimination and privacy violations by AI systems. While the European Union participated in drafting the treaty, other countries outside of Europe can also sign it.

It’s important to note that this convention differs from the upcoming European Union Law on Artificial Intelligence, which is a detailed regulation specific to EU member states. The EU is expected to approve this law next week. Although the Council of Europe and the European Union are different entities, all EU member states are part of the Council.

In total, 11 non-member countries participated in drafting the convention, showing a global interest in promoting responsible AI use. These countries include Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel