Council of Europe and Microsoft Team Up to Safeguard Human Rights in AI Era

The Council of Europe and Microsoft have formally agreed to collaborate on promoting human rights in the age of artificial intelligence. The two organizations signed a framework agreement on October 6, 2026, at the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg. This partnership aims to address the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid advancements in AI, particularly in safeguarding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

The agreement was signed by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. Berset emphasized the importance of working with businesses to ensure responsible transformation in technology. He noted that AI moves faster than democratic safeguards and requires robust rules to prevent misuse. Smith highlighted that the success of AI will be measured by its ability to serve people, grounding innovation in human rights principles.

The framework allows both organizations to explore cooperative initiatives, such as knowledge-sharing and supporting linguistic and cultural diversity. One key project mentioned is the Register of Damage for Ukraine, where Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab is using AI and satellite analysis to assess war-related damage. Previous collaborations have focused on cybercrime, with Microsoft supporting the Council of Europe’s Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.

The agreement underscores the need for responsible technological development, ensuring that AI aligns with democratic values and human rights standards.