Protecting democracy from disruptions caused by artificial intelligence

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 15978 | 18 April 2024

Signatories:

Mr George PAPANDREOU, Greece, SOC ; Ms Thórhildur Sunna ÆVARSDÓTTIR, Iceland, SOC ; Ms Nerea AHEDO, Spain, ALDE ; Ms Petra BAYR, Austria, SOC ; Mr Jone BLIKRA, Norway, SOC ; Mr Iulian BULAI, Romania, ALDE ; Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC ; Mr Constantinos EFSTATHIOU, Cyprus, SOC ; Mr Paul GALLES, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Ms Valentina GRIPPO, Italy, ALDE ; Mr Antonio GUTIÉRREZ LIMONES, Spain, SOC ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Mr Kimmo KILJUNEN, Finland, SOC ; Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Mr Arminas LYDEKA, Lithuania, ALDE ; Ms Octavie MODERT, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Mr Andrea ORLANDO, Italy, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Evripidis STYLIANIDIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Lesia ZABURANNA, Ukraine, ALDE

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

Following the adoption of Opinion 303 (2024) “Draft Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” by the Parliamentary Assembly, we share concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence in political contexts, particularly its effects on human rights, democratic processes, and elections. This includes potential disruption of electoral processes and the proper functioning of the judicial and financial systems.

For this reason, the Assembly should analyse how the application of artificial intelligence technology represents a threat to democracy and human rights, including whether artificial intelligence enables authoritarian regimes to abuse existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws to repress their critics transnationally.

To establish a comprehensive and balanced regulatory framework, the Assembly should gather opinions from developers, economists, experts, civil society groups, and government bodies to identify effective tools and strategies that can curb the misuse of artificial intelligence. Among the potential solutions to consider is the application of Bitcoin blockchain technology. This technology offers a way to authenticate information and secure transaction records, thus countering artificial intelligence's ability to produce and disseminate false information and undermine the judicial system's integrity. Bitcoin blockchain can also prevent the manipulation of election outcomes, as was the case in Guatemala in 2023, where the technology was used to safeguard the integrity of the presidential election.