Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 6 September 2024 | Current Affairs: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
The first legally binding international AI treaty will be open for signing on Thursday by the countries that negotiated it, including European Union members, the United States and Britain, the Council of Europe human rights organisation said.
The AI Convention, which has been in the works for years and was adopted in May after discussions between 57 countries, addresses the risks AI may pose, while promoting responsible innovation.
"This Convention is a major step to ensuring that these new technologies can be harnessed without eroding our oldest values, like human rights and the rule of law," Britain's justice minister, Shabana Mahmood, said in a statement.
The AI Convention mainly focuses on the protection of human rights of people affected by AI systems and is separate from the EU AI Act, which entered into force last month.
The EU's AI Act entails comprehensive regulations on the development, deployment, and use of AI systems within the EU internal market.
The Council of Europe, founded in 1949, is an international organization distinct from the EU with a mandate to safeguard human rights; 46 countries are members, including all the 27 EU member states.
An ad hoc committee in 2019 started examining the feasibility of an AI framework convention and a Committee on Artificial Intelligence was formed in 2022 which drafted and negotiated the text.
The signatories can choose to adopt or maintain legislative, administrative or other measures to give effect to the provisions.
Francesca Fanucci, a legal expert at ECNL (European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting) who contributed to the treaty's drafting process alongside other civil society groups, told Reuters the agreement had been "watered down" into a broad set of principles.
"The formulation of principles and obligations in this convention is so overbroad and fraught with caveats that it raises serious questions about their legal certainty and effective enforceability," she said.
Fanucci highlighted exemptions on AI systems used for national security purposes, and limited scrutiny of private companies versus the public sector, as flaws. "This double standard is disappointing," she added.
The UK government said it would work with regulators, the devolved administrations, and local authorities to ensure it can appropriately implement its new requirements.
[Excerpt from Business Standard "US, EU, UK Set to Sign Historic AI Treaty" Dated 06/09/24]

Q1: What is the main purpose of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law?
(a) To encourage AI development globally
(b) To create a unified legal framework for AI that protects human rights and democratic values
(c) To establish AI as a primary tool for national security
(d) To focus solely on AI in the private sector

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Q2: Why is the treaty significant for AI regulation?
(a) It replaces all existing AI rules and regulations worldwide
(b) It creates a common set of guidelines for countries to follow, preventing conflicting AI rules
(c) It completely bans the use of AI in private sector applications
(d) It requires countries to develop their own individual AI policies

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Q3: How was the treaty developed?
(a) It was created by the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom alone
(b) It was developed by over 50 countries working together over two years
(c) It was drafted by private AI companies
(d) It was created in response to a global AI-related security threat

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Q4: What does the treaty's "risk-based framework" mean?
(a) It only applies to AI systems that are completely safe
(b) It sets rules based on how risky an AI system is, with stricter rules for higher-risk systems
(c) It encourages countries to take risks with AI development
(d) It focuses only on financial risks related to AI use

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Q5: What are the three key goals of the treaty?
(a) Protect AI development, safeguard data, and enhance productivity
(b) Encourage AI innovation, support private sector growth, and reduce government oversight
(c) Protect human rights, safeguard democracy, and provide legal support for individuals affected by AI
(d) Regulate AI security, national defense, and AI-based financial transactions

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