The Deputy Secretary General says technology can undermine elections and public trust if unchecked.

A top official from the Council of Europe warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could threaten democratic systems if its development and use are not carefully regulated. Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, spoke at a conference in London that brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, experts, and civil society representatives to discuss AI’s impact on democratic values and human rights.

Speaking alongside the Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, Berge said AI has already changed the way citizens form opinions and how elected officials communicate with the public. “In some cases, they use it to strike at the very heart of democracy by undermining free and fair elections,” he said, referring to the risk of foreign information manipulation and interference through automated systems.

The Deputy Secretary General emphasized the need for collective action across borders to ensure democratic processes remain strong as information ecosystems evolve. “Given that artificial intelligence knows no borders, we need to work together to ensure that our democratic processes remain resilient as information ecosystems evolve, with human rights at their core,” Berge said.

The conference, hosted at the British Parliament’s Westminster campus, highlighted growing concern among European institutions about how AI technology could be used to distort public debate, influence voters, and erode trust in democratic institutions. The event also served as a platform to mobilize support for the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, which aims to set international standards that protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the age of AI.

The gathering underscored the belief among lawmakers and experts that democratic bodies must play a stronger role in shaping AI regulation. Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, told attendees that technology should support representative government, not replace it.