Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:45 pm on 3 February 2026.
Lord Clement-Jones
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Science, Innovation and Technology)
3:45,
3 February 2026
My Lords, I declare an interest as a consultant for DLA Piper on AI regulation and policy. In the debate on AI last week, the noble Baroness, Lady Lloyd of Effra, mentioned the Council of Europe framework convention on AI. She rightly said that it is seeking
“to establish a clear international baseline that grounds AI in our shared values
Fine words, my Lords. The framework convention would set binding duties on the UK to ensure that AI is compatible with human rights, democracy and the rule of law, plus some more specific obligations on risk management, transparency, accountability and remedies. When will the UK ratify it, and what plans is it making to implement it?
An international organisation of member states (45 at the time of writing) in the European region; not to be confused with the Council of the European Union, nor the European Council.
Founded on 5 May, 1949 by the Treaty of London, and currently seated in Strasbourg, membership is open to all European states which accept the princple of the rule of law and guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens. In 1950, this body created the European Convention on Human Rights, which laid out the foundation principles and basis on which the European Court of Human Rights stands.
Today, its primary activities include charters on a range of human rights, legal affairs, social cohesion policies, and focused working groups and charters on violence, democracy, and a range of other areas.
