Following the end of the negotiations within the Council of Europe Committee on AI (CAI) of the draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the text has now been transmitted to the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) for its consideration. The PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights – Sub-Committee on AI and Human Rights has been tasked with preparing an Opinion on the draft AI Convention, which is expected to be approved by PACE on 18 April. It will be then transmitted to the CoE Committee of Ministers for their discussion and approval of the final text on 16-17 May.
CINGO’s key concerns on the draft text
The Council of Europe Conference of International NGOs (CINGO), represented by ECNL at the CoE Committee on AI, has issued recommendations to PACE before the drafting, discussion and approval of its Opinion on the draft Convention on AI. In particular, CINGO raises three key concerns:
- First, CINGO strongly objects to the blanket exemption for national security.
- Secondly, it argues that the protection of health and environment should be reintroduced in the list of principles or alternatively in the provision on risk and impact management framework.
- Thirdly, it denounces the use of imprecise language throughout the text which may lead to legal uncertainty and unenforceability.