The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and several other countries have signed the AI Safety Treaty, developed by the Council of Europe (COE), an international standards and human rights body. The groundbreaking treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law, opened for signature in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the first legally binding international agreement aimed at ensuring that AI systems are consistent with democratic values.
The treaty focuses on three main areas: protecting human rights (including privacy and preventing discrimination), upholding democracy, and upholding the rule of law. It also provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, fostering innovation, and managing potential risks.
Besides the US, UK and EU, other signatories to the treaty include Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino and Israel. Notable absent are major Asian and Middle Eastern countries and Russia, although a statement from the Council of Europe said any country could join in future as long as it abides by the treaty’s terms.
“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds, rather than undermines, our standards,” COE Executive Director Marija Pejčinović Buric said in a statement. “The Framework Convention is designed to ensure exactly that. It is a strong, balanced document, the result of being drafted with an open and inclusive approach, ensuring that it benefits from multiple expert perspectives.”
The treaty will come into force three months after it is ratified by at least five signatory countries, including three that are Council of Europe member states. The Council of Europe treaty joins other recent efforts to regulate AI, including the UK AI Safety Summit, the G7-led Hiroshima AI Process, and the UN AI Resolution.
