On September 5th, Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood signed the world’s first legally binding treaty limiting the uses of AI, bringing the UK into an agreement also including other world leaders such as those of the United States and European Union. The treaty (officially named: ‘Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law’) outlines principles that will apply to all use of public sector AI, including that of private companies on behalf of the public sector.
The treaty has three main safeguards, which aim to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This includes privacy, data collection, and non-discrimination, as well as the spread of misinformation and biased data. All countries signing the treaty must establish and enforce measures that will assess and counteract any adverse effects of AI technology.
These principles must be upheld throughout the entire life cycle of an AI, but do not affect those used only in the private sector. Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology stated that this policy will be key in ‘strengthening our own domestic approach to the technology while furthering the global cause of safe, secure, and responsible AI.’
However, the treaty is not without criticisms. It does not include clear sanctions for any violations and allows countries to opt-out as long as they give prior notice to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Therefore, the convention is not particularly binding. Despite this, 57 countries have already signed the Framework (including 11 non-members of the Council of Europe), and the EU AI Act entered into force on August 1st, 2024, for any previously established signatories.
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