Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama

The convention is the first international legally binding treaty for the governance of AI. It aims to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, president of the IBA, said: “The Council of Europe’s AI Convention establishes a necessary foundation to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in our digital age. Lawyers and law societies around the world should seek to ensure its rapid adoption and implementation.”

She added: “The legal profession may not be alien to the AI revolution. We must play an active role in the governance of technological changes avoiding developments that may risk fundamental values of our modern societies – human rights, defence, of democracy and, the basis of it all, the rule of law. 

“We must also embrace new technologies and the great benefits attached to them. I encourage other legal associations, of a national or international reach, to also endorse the Framework Convention and to support its adoption and implementation.”