US, UK, And EU Sign Legally Binding Treaty On AI To Protect 'Human Rights, Democracy And The Rule Of Law'

The U.S., U.K., and the EU have come together to sign the first legally binding treaty on artificial intelligence, to ensure that AI use aligns with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

What Happened: The treaty, known as the Framework Convention on AI, sets out key principles for AI systems, encompassing data protection, adherence to the law, and transparency in practices.

Countries that sign the treaty are obligated to adopt or maintain measures that reflect this framework.

“It promotes AI progress and innovation, while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. To stand the test of time, it is technology-neutral,” the Council of Europe stated in the announcement.

Other countries that have signed the treaty include Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Israel. The treaty has been in the works since 2019.

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“We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić. The treaty will come into effect three months after ratification by five signatories.

Historic moment! The #CoE opens the first-ever legally binding global treaty on #AI and human rights.

Signed by EU 🇦🇩 🇬🇪 🇮🇸 🇳🇴🇲🇩🇸🇲 🇬🇧 🇮🇱 🇺🇸, this Framework Convention ensures AI aligns with our values.

#HumanRights #Innovation #Democracy #GlobalTreaty

— Council of Europe (@coe) September 5, 2024

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Why It Matters: The signing of this treaty comes at a time when AI safety has been a hot topic.

Earlier this year, it was reported that ChatGPT-parent OpenAI has expanded its lobbying team to shape AI regulations amid growing safety concerns.

Last month, the California legislature approved a controversial AI safety bill, which faced resistance from the tech industry. According to prediction market Polymarket, the bill, backed by Elon Musk, has a 57% chance of being signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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