The Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225) was concluded in Vilnius on 5 September 2024, in a single original, the English and French texts being equally authentic, deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Article 30: open for signature by Council members, non-member States that took part in its elaboration and the European Union; entry into force on the first day of the month following three months after five consents, including at least three member States. It is not the EU AI Act, nor the OECD AI Principles.

Article 1: activities within the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems are to be consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law; domestic measures are graduated according to the severity and probability of adverse impacts. Article 2 defines an AI system as a machine-based system that infers, from the input it receives, outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations or decisions. Article 3: mandatory application to public authorities and to private actors acting on their behalf; for other private actors, each Party declares how it will meet the obligation. National security need not be brought within the Convention, provided applicable international law is respected; national defence is outside its scope.

Chapters II–III require measures for the integrity of democratic processes, dignity, transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, privacy and reliability — principles, not a technical handbook. Article 14: accessible remedies where rights are violated, including information sufficient to contest a decision substantially informed by a system. Article 16: a framework for identifying and mitigating risks, including the possibility of a moratorium or ban on certain uses incompatible with human rights.

Article 23 establishes a Conference of the Parties. Article 26: independent domestic oversight mechanisms. Article 27: EU member States apply Union rules among themselves, without prejudice to the Convention’s object and purpose vis-à-vis other Parties. The Vilnius conference opened the Convention for signature; initial signatories included, among others, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The text consulted is the CETS 225 original, not the European Commission press note in the register. The Convention is a technology-neutral framework: it does not regulate a particular architecture.

Cover: the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, the venue of the opening for signature; we do not claim the hall. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence; CETS 225 Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence.