UK signs first international treaty to implement AI safeguards

Governments around the world, including the UK, US, and EU, have signed the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This legally binding treaty aims to ensure that AI systems respect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law throughout their entire lifecycle while promoting innovation. It also commits countries to act against activities that fall outside these parameters to prevent the misuse of AI models that pose risks to public services and the broader public.

On behalf of the UK, the agreement was signed on Thursday by Shabana Mahmood, the UK Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary.

In a statement for the UK government, Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: “Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to 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.”

Once the treaty is ratified and enacted in the UK, existing laws and measures will be strengthened.

As the first legally binding international treaty on AI, the Convention will ensure a united global approach to managing the risks of this technology in alignment with shared values.

The agreement covers three general areas of protection:

• protecting human rights, including ensuring that data is used appropriately, privacy is respected, and AI does not engage in discriminatory practices
• protecting democracy by ensuring countries take steps to prevent public institutions and processes from being undermined
• protecting the rule of law, by putting the onus on signatory countries to regulate AI-specific risks, protect their citizens from potential harms, and ensure AI is used safely.

The framework was agreed upon by 46 Council of Europe member states, the EU, and 11 non-member states (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay) in May. In addition to the US, EU, and UK, it has now been signed by Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Israel.

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• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Protection