Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Education: The Need for International Regulation to Foster Human Rights, Democracy and Equity
The growing implementation of Artificial Intelligence in education (AIED) raises pressing ethical, legal, and political questions. Unlike other sectors, education affects minors and youth, shapes societal values and civic participation, and plays a foundational role in upholding democratic principles. Education cannot, therefore, be treated as a standard application domain for AI technologies because the relationship between AI and Education (AI&ED) is very complex and special. The introduction of AI systems in educational environments risks reinforcing inequality, diminishing democratic oversight, and displacing core human functions in pedagogy. This paper introduces the concept of the workshop held at the international 27th AIED Conference 2026. It responds to these concerns by focusing on the development of binding international regulations and organisational safeguards to govern the complex relationship between AI and education (AI&ED). Grounded in the work of the Council of Europe’s AI&ED Expert Group, it aims to identify specific legal requirements and structural measures necessary to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of the law in educational contexts. A special focus will be on formal education for all including AI use and policies for assessment to foster and improve human rights, democracy and equity. Through interactive formats, the workshop will critically examine existing policy proposals, identify omissions, and propose principles for effective regulation that serve the common good. The results can feed into the design of international AI policies and regulations for education including the Council of Europe’s development of international AI&ED laws and conventions: The key focus is on a binding convention for the AI use in education (AIED) and on a recommendation for the education about AI (AI literacy).