The significance of the first global ‘legally binding’ pact on use of AI

The significance of the first global ‘legally binding’ pact on use of AI

Sub : IR

Sec: Int conventions

Context:

• US, UK and European Union are about to sign the Council of Europe’s convention on artificial intelligence (AI), the first legally binding international treaty on the use of artificial intelligence.

About the treaty:

• The treaty is officially known as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.
• It is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring the respect of human rights, the rule of law and democracy legal standards in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems.
• It covers the use of AI systems in the public sector, including companies acting on its behalf and in the private sector.
• The treaty seeks to ensure responsible use of AI throughout the entire life of an AI system, from creation to use.
• There are a few exemptions in the scope of applicability of the Framework Convention, such as national security and research and development.
• The treaty is open to non-European countries.

Obligation on signatories:

• Signatories will be accountable for any harmful and discriminatory outcomes of AI systems.
• They have to ensure that outputs of such systems respect equality and privacy rights.
• The signatories are also required to ensure that victims of AI-related rights violations have legal recourse.

Issues and concerns with the pact:

• Even though the treaty is being called legally binding, there are concerns that it does not contain provisions for punitive sanctions such as penalties or fines.
• Compliance is primarily ensured through monitoring, which is not much of a deterrent from an enforcement point of view.

Other initiatives in AI regulation:

• G7 pact on AI signed in 2023.
• The European Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, 2024
• Bletchley Declaration signed by 28 countries in 2023.

About Council of Europe:

• The Council of Europe is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
• The organisation is distinct from the European Union.
• The council was founded in 1949 and brings together 46 member states.
• No country has ever joined the EU without first belonging to the Council of Europe.
• The Council of Europe is an official United Nations observer.