Taking into account the growing risks and challenges posed by artificial intelligence and digital platforms from the spread of disinformation and algorithmic bias to the lack of transparency and public oversight the Council of Europe developed and adopted in 2024 the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. As the world’s first legally binding international treaty on AI, the Convention provides a comprehensive legal framework to ensure that the development and use of AI technologies are grounded in fundamental rights and democratic principles. It sets out key obligations for transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, and human oversight, while also promoting inclusive public participation in shaping AI systems that affect individuals and society at large.
These issues - and the need for co-ordinated international responses - were central to discussions at the 20th UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), exploring how rights-based governance models can be applied to AI and digital platforms, and how legal and policy tools can help safeguard democratic dialogue in the face of growing technological complexity.
Despite this milestone, many complex and evolving issues remain open for public and expert debate - particularly around the role and responsibilities of digital platforms, the governance of AI-generated content, and the urgent need for digital literacy in an age of algorithmic manipulation.
Amid these discussions, Ukraine was represented by Olha Petriv, an AI legal expert from the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law and a member of the Committee on AI Development under the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Her participation was made possible with the support of the Council of Europe project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – Phase II.”
In her intervention during a panel on equality and inclusion in AI, Petriv stressed the growing threat of AI-driven disinformation in Ukraine - particularly in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and foreign influence campaigns.
Petriv stressed that strengthening AI literacy among youth is essential, as education remains the most effective defence against algorithmic manipulation. Teaching children how algorithms function - and how to question the content they consume - is not only a protective measure but a long-term investment in democratic resilience.
“Ukraine is actively working on the development of ethical artificial intelligence - we have already launched a national self-regulation initiative. This is a crucial step in combating disinformation. But it is not enough unless we also work with the next generation - those who will soon be shaping the foundation of our society. If we do not teach children how to think, someone else will teach them what to think,” - she stated.
Petriv’s appearance at the IGF builds on her sustained engagement in international AI governance. During the previous phase of the Council of Europe’s “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine” project, she actively contributed to expert meetings of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI), where she submitted legal proposals to the draft AI Convention. Her inputs focused on enhancing transparency, accountability, and inclusive oversight mechanisms, particularly reflecting Ukraine’s experience with hybrid threats and the need to embed safeguards in fast-moving digital environments.
Her continued input within the Project's support ensures that Ukraine’s legal and policy perspectives are reflected in the development of global AI standards. Looking ahead, she will contribute as an expert to training activities for early-career journalists in Ukraine, helping to address the ethical and legal implications of using AI in journalism - an area where opportunities for innovation increasingly coexist with serious risks to content integrity and public trust.
The Council of Europe Project “Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Media in Ukraine – II Phase” (SFEM-UA) is implemented by the Council of Europe Division for Co-operation on Freedom of Expression in the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” 2023-2026.
