Human rights and democracy will be further protected from threats posed by AI under a new international agreement signed by the countries that negotiated it, including European Union members, the US and the UK.

The Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law was opened for signature today during a conference of Council of Europe ministers of justice in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius.

The convention was signed by Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino and the UK as well as Israel, the US and the European Union.

Adopted in May 2024 after discussions between 57 countries, the AI convention provides a legal framework covering the entire life cycle of AI systems. It promotes AI progress and innovation, while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. These risks include the spread of misinformation or using biased data that may prejudice decisions.

The UK’s lord chancellor and justice secretary...