‘Legally Enforceable’ AI Treaty Signed by Host of Countries Including US

A host of countries including the United States and the United Kingdom have signed the “first-ever international legally binding treaty” aimed at ensuring AI systems are “fully consistent with
human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”

The Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence provides a legal framework for AI systems to protect user data, respect the law, and keep practices transparent.

As well as the U.S. and the U.K., the treaty was signed by the European Union, Israel, Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, and San Marino.

Historic moment! The #CoE opens the first-ever legally binding global treaty on #AI and human rights.

Signed by EU 🇦🇩 🇬🇪 🇮🇸 🇳🇴🇲🇩🇸🇲 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 🇺🇸, this Framework Convention ensures AI aligns with our values.

#HumanRights #Innovation #Democracy #GlobalTreaty

— Council of Europe (@coe) September 5, 2024

The Verge reports that despite numerous AI safety frameworks agreed upon by major players in the industry, there is little consequence for those who break their commitments. And although the Council of Europe trumpets the treaty as “legally binding”, the Financial Times notes that “compliance is measured primarily through monitoring, which is a relatively weak form of enforcement.”

“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them. The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that,” says Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić.

“It is a strong and balanced text — the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and which 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.”

The treaty has been in the works since 2019 and was negotiated by the 46 Council of Europe member states, the European Union, and 11 non-member states: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay. Representatives of the private sector, civil society, and academia contributed as observers.

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.