Canada and Japan have signed the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of law, joining the eleven signatories that have already signed this international treaty. The signing ceremony took place prior to the Council of Europe’s side event, which focused on African engagement in global AI governance, organised as part of the AI Action Summit hosted by France.

The Framework Convention provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems. It promotes AI progress and innovation, while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. To stand the test of time, it is technology-neutral.

The treaty was opened for signature on 5 September in Vilnius (Lithuania). Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, the United Kingdom as well as Israel, the United States of America and the European Union signed it.

The 46 Council of Europe member states, the European Union and numerous observer and non-member states (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States of America and Uruguay) negotiated the treaty. Representatives of the private sector, civil society and academia contributed as observers.

It is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The Framework Convention will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, have ratified it. Countries from all over the world will then be eligible to join it and commit to complying with its provisions.

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 The Council of Europe and artificial intelligence