News
Deputy Secretary General at IGF: “We must harness the benefits of AI without sacrificing our values”
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto and organised under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In his remarks at the opening of the Forum, Deputy...
Kyoto: Council of Europe at the Internet Governance Forum
The Council of Europe is participating in the 18th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Japan from 8 to 12 October in Kyoto, Japan, under the theme “The Internet We Want - Empowering All People”. In addition to engaging in the general discussions, the Council of Europe...
Assessing the impact of immersive realities on human rights: Committee of Ministers informal meeting
In the framework of the Latvian Presidency’s priority of supporting the Council of Europe digital agenda, the Committee of Ministers is holding an informal meeting on 14 September to explore the potential impact of immersive realities such as the Metaverse, on human rights, the rule of law and...
Privacy Symposium examines global role of data protection convention; Argentina ratifies amending protocol
The 2023 Privacy Symposium taking place in Venice from 17 to 21 April is devoting its opening day to a special programme on the Council of Europe’s privacy and data protection treaty (“Convention 108”), which comprises 55 states from four continents and has become the backbone of national...
Data Protection Day: New guidelines to ensure that national digital identity systems respect human rights standards
To mark Data Protection Day, celebrated every year on 28 January, the president of the Consultative Committee of the Council of Europe data protection “Convention 108”, Elsa Mein, has stressed the need for national digital identity schemes and systems to comply with human rights standards,...
Council of Europe at the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 17th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) from 28 November to 2 December. Held in a hybrid format under the theme “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, the IGF will...
Council of Europe celebrates Safer Internet Day 2022
For the 7th consecutive year, the Council of Europe is supporting the Safer Internet Day Campaign and and is joining forces with numerous stakeholders to work together for a better and safer internet for all, and especially for children and young adults. Safeguarding and promoting the rights of...
Digital Partnership: Council of Europe discusses cooperation with IT and internet companies and business associations
On 3 and 4 February, the Council of Europe organised an exchange of views with the 26 members of the Digital Partnership, an initiative aimed at fostering cooperation with internet and IT companies, and their business associations, to promote respect for human rights. The event – held in workshop...
Council of Europe at Internet Governance Forum 2021
The Council of Europe will participate in the debates of the 16th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) to be hosted by the government of Poland in a hybrid format in Katowice from 6 to 10 December, focusing its contribution in particular on the new challenges to the protection of human rights...
Cybercrime: Council of Europe strengthens its legal arsenal
As the Convention on Cybercrime (“Budapest Convention”) turns 20, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on enhanced co-operation and the disclosure of electronic evidence. “This text is a significant step forward in...
Council of Europe marks 20 years of action against cybercrime
Twenty years after it was adopted, the Budapest Convention remains the most relevant international treaty that protects individuals and their rights against crime online. The Council of Europe’s annual conference on cybercrime, which every year brings together cybercrime experts from all over the...
Data protection: Committee of Ministers updates recommendation on profiling
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a Recommendation aiming to respond to the radical changes in profiling techniques in the last decade and to the consequent need for additional safeguards to protect personal data and private life of individuals. The text, which...
COVID-19 tracing apps: side effects on personal data protection should be avoided
In a joint statement the Chair of the Council of Europe’s data protection “Convention 108” committee, Alessandra Pierucci, and the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Commissioner, Jean-Philippe Walter, have warned of the possible side effects of digital contact tracing applications used to help...
Algorithms and automation: new guidelines to prevent human rights breaches
The Council of Europe today called on its 47 member States to take a precautionary approach to the development and use of algorithmic systems and adopt legislation, policies and practices that fully respect human rights. In a Recommendation on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems, the...
Safer Internet Day: we’ve joined the campaign for a safer, better Internet
Imagine you find yourself in a world of infinite possibilities, a world with new friends to be found, new games to play and new ideas to explore. But how can you be sure you’re safe, how can you trust people you can't see, how do you know what you're learning is true? How can the Internet be...
New public policies for the Internet – 2019 IGF in Berlin
What are the risks of discrimination created by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? What access to data across borders do law enforcement need in order to fight cybercrime? How can privacy be protected in digital platforms? How do we rise to the challenge of tackling illegal content online...
Artificial intelligence: Expert committee to explore the development of a legal framework
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe representing its 47 members states has decided to set up an intergovernmental committee of experts to examine the feasibility of a legal framework for the development, design and application of artificial intelligence. To carry out its work, the...
Using technology in managing offenders in prison and probation: conference in Ayia Napa
The annual Conference of Directors of Prison and Probation Services of the Council of Europe, to be held on 21 and 22 May in Ayia Napa (Cyprus), will discuss the advantages and pitfalls when using new technologies in the management of suspects and offenders, and the central place of the human...
Unboxing artificial intelligence: 10 steps to protect human rights
Ensuring that human rights are strengthened and not undermined by artificial intelligence is one of the key factors that will define the world we live in”, says Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, in a Recommendation published today. This Recommendation – entitled...
Data Protection Day
New guidelines on artificial intelligence