The Council of Europe has adopted the first international treaty on Artificial Intelligence (AI), named the Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This treaty, open to non-European countries, provides a legal framework encompassing the entire lifecycle of AI systems. It addresses potential risks while promoting responsible innovation.
The convention adopts a risk-based approach to the design, development, use, and decommissioning of AI systems, requiring careful consideration of any potential negative consequences. It covers the use of AI systems in both the public and private sectors, including companies acting on behalf of the public sector.
The convention offers two ways of compliance for parties:
- Direct obligation by the relevant convention provisions
- Taking other measures to comply with the treaty's provisions while fully respecting their international obligations regarding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
This approach is necessary due to the differences in legal systems globally.
