The Council of Europe brought together Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Protection Authorities from the Southern Mediterranean region, on 8 September in Hammamet, Tunisia, as part of the AI Forward Summit – Intelligence Society 2026, organised by the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO), to address the growing challenges at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data protection and health.

This side event, organised in the framework of the South Programme VI and in cooperation with the AICTO, provided a platform for regulators to exchange experiences and discuss emerging governance challenges in the use of AI in healthcare. 

Participants explored the interrelation between data protection and health, with particular attention to the protection and use of patients’ data. They also discussed national developments and common challenges in data protection and health across the Southern Mediterranean region.

As advancements in  AI and data protection continue to reshape the international legal and policy landscape, it is crucial for all stakeholders involved in this field to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in these fields. The Council of Europe, as the leading pan-European human rights institution, is at the forefront of crafting pioneering legal instruments and standards addressing not only AI and data protection but also wider challenges to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the digital age:

• The Council of Europe’s work includes the Convention 108 and the modernised Convention 108+, a global treaty setting out robust standards for privacy and personal data governance reinforcing Convention 108. Both instruments are open for accession by non-member states.
• The Council of Europe has also recently adopted the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the first binding international treaty on AI, which is likewise open to countries well beyond Europe.

The participants will also attend and contribute towards AICTO’s AI Forward Summit 2026 on 9-10 September 2026.

About the AI Forward Summit 2026

The AI Forward Summit is a high-level regional conference bringing together ministers, regulators, industry leaders and international organisations to promote trustworthy, ethical and human-centred artificial intelligence and digital transformation across the Arab region. The AI Forward Summit 2026 features a dedicated health and AI track focusing on the use of artificial intelligence to advance digital health, improve healthcare delivery, and promote trustworthy governance, innovation and responsible use of health data.

The activity is organised with the support of the joint European Union-Council of Europe programme “Strengthening the Euro-Mediterranean legal space for shared prosperity and human security” (South Programme VI), co-financed by the two organisations and implemented by the Council of Europe.