Amidst increasing security concerns on artificial intelligence (AI), global leaders are set to sign the first legally binding international AI treaty today. The AI convention, a culmination of international collaboration among 57 nations, was adopted in May and will be signed by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
What is the AI Convention?
The Council of Europe’s Convention on Artificial Intelligence is the first-ever international legally binding treaty on AI. The treaty focuses on ensuring that AI technology and its applications are fully consistent with human rights, democracy, and other legal boundaries.
The treaty emphasizes the need to harmonize technological progress with the protection of human rights and democratic values, guaranteeing that innovation promotes the well-being of individuals and societies. Britain’s justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, stated, “This Convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law.”
Journey to Treaty
Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe emerged as an international organization dedicated to human rights protection. The council consists of 47 members, including 27 EU member states. In 2019, the council discussed the necessity for an AI framework convention, especially following an ad hoc committee’s scrutiny of the industry. Soon, in 2022, a dedicated committee on AI was formed and negotiated the treaty’s text.
Flexible Implementation
As per reports, the signatory countries have the flexibility to implement the provisions through their own chosen measures. To be more explicit, they can choose to adopt or maintain legislative, administrative, or other measures. Francesca Fanucci, a legal expert at ECNL (European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting) who played a significant role in the treaty’s drafting process, stated that the convention’s principles may raise “serious questions about their legal certainty and effective enforceability.”
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In related news, California has proposed AB 3211, also known as the “California Digital Content Provenance Standards, a bill that ensures transparency in the digital media sphere. In response to rising concerns over scams and threats, such as deepfakes, in the AI space, the legislation seeks to establish a clear differentiation between AI-generated and human-created content. Industry giants like OpenAI endorses the bill, highlighting the necessity of differentiating between AI and human-made content.
