The declaration, which was also signed by the European Union, the United States and Israel, aims to mitigateAIPossible threats to human rights, democracy and the rule of law
The Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence was signed at a conference in Vilnius. It aims to piece together a patchwork of AI protocols into a unified global framework.
U.K.The government signed the first international treaty on artificial intelligence, a move aimed at preventing misuse of the technology, such as spreading misinformation or using biased data to make decisions.
Under the legally binding agreement, countries must adopt safeguards against any threat to human rights, democracy and the rule of law posed by artificial intelligence. The treaty, known as the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, was drafted by the Council of Europe, an international human rights organization, and signed on Thursday by the EU, Britain, the United States and Israel.
Justice Minister Shabana Mahmood said AI had the ability to "radically improve" public services and "drive" economic growth, but must be adopted without compromising fundamental human rights. "This convention is an important step in ensuring that these new technologies are utilized without eroding our oldest values, such as human rights and the rule of law," she said.
What is the purpose of the Congress?
The goal, according to the European Commission, is to "fill any legal gaps that may be created by rapid advances in technology." The latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI refers to computer systems capable of performing tasks normally associated with intelligent beings, such as learning and problem solving) have sparked regulatory battles around the world to mitigate the potential pitfalls of the technology.
That means a patchwork of regulations and agreements covering the technology, from the EU Artificial Intelligence Act to the Bletchley Declaration at last year's inaugural Global AI Safety Summit and a voluntary testing regime signed by many countries and companies at the same gathering. Thursday's agreement attempts to create a global framework.
The treaty stipulates that AI systems must comply with a number of principles, including: protection of personal data; non-discrimination; safe development; and human dignity. As a result, the Government is expected to put in place protective measures, such as blocking AI-generated misinformation and preventing systems from being trained on biased data, which could lead to incorrect decisions in a variety of situations, such as job or benefit claims.
Who is covered by the treaty?
It covers the use of artificial intelligence by public authorities and the private sector. Any company or institution using relevant AI systems must assess their potential impact on human rights, democracy and the rule of law and make this information available to the public. People must be able to challenge decisions made by AI systems and be able to lodge complaints with the authorities. Users of AI systems must also be aware that they are dealing with artificial intelligence and not with human beings.
How will it be implemented in the UK?
The UK now needs to know whether its various provisions are covered by existing legislation, such as the European Court of Human Rights and other human rights laws. The Government is consulting on a new AI Bill.
"Once the treaty is ratified and enters into force in the UK, existing laws and measures will be strengthened," the government said.
In terms of imposing sanctions, the Convention mentions that authorities may prohibit certain uses of AI. For example, the EU AI Act prohibits systems that use facial recognition databases grabbed from closed-circuit television or the Internet. It also bans systems that classify humans based on their social behavior.