Council of Europe Opens World’s First Legally Binding Global AI Treaty for Signature

Council of Europe Opens World’s First Legally Binding Global AI Treaty for Signature

On September 5, 2024, the Council of Europe opened the world’s first legally binding global treaty on artificial intelligence (AI) for signature in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225) sets a new international standard to ensure AI systems align with human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law.

Adopted by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on May 17, 2024, this landmark treaty offers a comprehensive legal framework governing the entire AI lifecycle, from design and development to deployment and decommissioning. It includes key principles such as human-centric AI, transparency, data protection, robust accountability, and safe innovation through regulatory sandboxes. The treaty’s risk-based approach emphasizes documentation, oversight, and risk management to ensure trustworthy AI systems.

The treaty has been signed by the EU, the UK, the US, Israel, and several other countries, and it will enter into force three months after five signatories, including three Council of Europe member states, ratify it. It excludes national security and defense activities, except when AI testing impacts human rights, democracy, or the rule of law.

Council of Europe Secretary General emphasized the treaty’s importance in preventing AI from undermining democratic institutions. The Framework Convention aims to provide legal remedies for AI-related human rights violations and safeguards against threats to democratic processes, ensuring a balanced approach to AI governance on a global scale.