Last 5th September in Vilnius (Lithuania), the European Commission signed the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This treaty, promoted by the Council of Europe, establishes an international legal framework to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), and is the first legally binding treaty to address the challenges posed by this technology at a global level.
The Framework Convention on AI is the result of a joint effort by 46 member states of the Council of Europe, the European Union and 11 non-European countries, including powers such as the United States, Japan and Canada. The treaty regulates the complete life cycle of AI systems, from their development to their implementation in both public and private sectors. Among its main objectives is to guarantee responsible innovation, transparency and supervision of AI systems, as well as protecting fundamental rights such as privacy and equality.
The document is structured in eight chapters, each of which addresses key aspects of the development and use of AI. These chapters establish comprehensive regulation covering everything from the design of AI systems to their implementation, highlighting principles such as human dignity, equality, privacy and technological reliability. In addition, the agreement reinforces the transparency and responsibility of AI developers and operators, and encourages safe innovation.
The topics addressed in these chapters include rules to prevent discrimination, guarantee gender equality and protect democratic processes from technological manipulation. It also incorporates an independent monitoring mechanism that will oversee the effective implementation of the treaty in the signatory countries. However, the agreement excludes activities related to national security and defence, as well as AI research not intended for public use.
A pioneering legal framework for AI at an international level
A key aspect of this treaty is its international nature. It is not only open to European countries, but also to other continents, making it the first global legal standard for AI. With a 24-month transition period, signatory states will have to comply with the obligations imposed, ensuring an ethical and safe application of AI that respects democratic and human rights principles.
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