The Council of Europe has published an important overview of the “Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law,” the first international legally binding instrument for AI.

The AI Treaty “aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, while being conducive to technological progress and innovation.”

For more than 4 years, since July 2020, Homo Digitalis has been actively involved in the relevant processes of the Council of Europe, initially participating in the CAHAI (Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence) in the Policy Development and Legal Frameworks Working Groups, and subsequently in the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI). Throughout this period, we had the honor of closely collaborating with civil society organizations, academic experts, member delegations, the Presidents of the Committees and Working Groups, and the Secretariat of the Council of Europe’s Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the development of the AI Convention.

Our co-founder and Executive Director, Eleftherios Chelioudakis, has represented Homo Digitalis in the relevant processes for the past 4 years.

Despite the limitations in the text of the Convention, which we have discussed in detail, we eagerly anticipate its adoption and implementation by the Member States of the Council of Europe. The treaty will be open for signature on September 5, 2024.

You can read the related overview here.