As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia,

Director General of UNESCO,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be in Slovenia and to speak about one of the fundamental challenges facing humankind.

By definition, we all want the benefits that Artificial Intelligence promises –

From improving the diagnosis and treatment of illness –

To reducing the burden of tedious, repetitive or dangerous work.

Equally, we all want reassurance that we can harness these benefits in a way that protects the diverse and vital interests of humankind.

This conference will look at what this means in practice –

And the distinguished speakers will lay out what they understand by the ethics of AI –

How its development might be governed at the international level –

And what their own organisation is doing to help ensure this.

I have no doubt that there will be a similarity in a great deal of our respective approaches –

And I look forward to the insights that will be provided –

As well as ideas on how we might best work together –

Or in tandem.

Certainly, the challenge posed by AI is one that the Council of Europe has been swift to grasp.

For the past 75 years, our Organisation has existed to protect and promote common standards in human rights, democracy and the rule of law on our continent.

On this basis, we seek to ensure that every individual can live in peace –

And with their dignity and autonomy ensured.

Making sure that AI develops in a way that upholds these values, rights and standards –

And does not undermine them –

This is what we mean when we speak, from our perspective, about the ethics of AI.

We aim to achieve that –

As with all our work –

Through a multilateral approach that brings member states together –

In common cause –

To develop the legal and non-legal standards that ensure cross-border solutions to cross-border problems.

AI is a perfect case in point.

Let me give you some very clear and tangible examples of how we have gone about this.

There are already cases of AI processes that have a negative, illegitimate effect on the technology and organisation that underpins election campaigns.

Sometimes these are direct and deliberate attacks on these key democratic processes –

And it is essential to do everything possible to prevent this –

And ensure faith in the key practices of our democratic societies.

That’s why, two years ago, our member states adopted guidelines on the use of information and communication technologies in the electoral process.

These support governments in handling electoral data and processes –

Including in the registration of voters –

The online publication of election information –

And in determining, processing and publishing election results.

This is one of our specific AI-related tools.

Another supports the administration of justice.

AI has the potential to improve the predictability of the law –

And the consistency of court decisions –

Whether in civil, commercial or administrative matters.

But Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights –

Ratified and in force in every one of our 46 member states –

Guarantees the right of every individual to a fair trial.

But this is thrown into jeopardy where AI gives rise to bias, discrimination or mistakes.

To address this, the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice –

CEPEJ –

Has produced a European Ethical Charter on the use of AI in Judicial Systems.

This guides our member states to apply five principles –

Respect for fundamental rights –

Non-discrimination –

Quality and security –

Transparency, impartiality and fairness –

And ensuring that users are informed actors and in control of their choices.

Compliance with this Charter while processing or making use of judicial decisions and data produced by algorithms –

Will help to reinforce justice in the AI age.

Other AI-related tools include regulating the use of AI in prison and probation systems –

In electronic facial recognition –

And in health-care systems too.

But, crucially, we are at an advanced stage in the elaboration of a broader instrument.

With the support of European leaders –

Who endorsed our approach at last May’s Summit of heads of State and Government in Reykjavík –

Our new Framework Convention on AI, human rights, democracy and the rule of law –

Will provide a transversal approach to ensuring a legally-binding framework for AI based on international law and which will serve the public interest.

Currently negotiations involve all our member states, plus the European Union and a range of non-European partners.

These include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Japan, the Holy See, Argentina, Costa Rica, Peru, Uruguay and Australia –

And the input of other international organisations –

And around 70 non-governmental organisations and private sector interests –

All help to ensure that the final text will be a strong and balanced one.

The negotiations for that framework convention are due to conclude with the opening of this Convention for signature this Spring –

And I am certain that its eventual ratification will be a landmark moment in guiding the ethical development of AI –

Not just in Europe –

But around the world –

For this will be an open convention –

Made in Europe, but open to the world.

The challenges posed by AI to human rights, democracy and the rule of law do not stop at Europe’s borders –

So, we hope that many other countries from other continents will also ratify –

Delivering a wide and effective approach.

Ladies and gentlemen, AI truly is a new frontier for humanity –

And I have no doubt that we can make a success of it if we choose the right, co-operative and international approach.

Let this conference open our eyes to new ways of achieving that.