Source: Scottish Legal News

The International Bar Association (IBA) has officially endorsed the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. This groundbreaking convention is the first international, legally binding treaty aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in a manner consistent with human rights, democratic principles, and the rule of law.

Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, president of the IBA, emphasized the importance of this convention in establishing a necessary foundation for AI governance in the digital age. She called on lawyers and law societies worldwide to actively support the convention’s rapid adoption and implementation, stressing the legal profession’s responsibility in guiding the ethical development of AI technologies.

The IBA’s endorsement underscores the critical need to balance technological innovation with fundamental societal values, ensuring that AI systems do not undermine human rights or democratic processes. The article suggests that the IBA’s backing could accelerate the global adoption of the Council of Europe’s AI Convention and set a new standard for AI governance on an international scale.