UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI: requirements, deadlines and compliance actions
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/265: Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development (21 March 2024)
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In brief
UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI is a non-binding policy of International organisations (OECD, UNESCO, UN, G7, ISO), issued by the United Nations General Assembly. It was adopted on 21 March 2024. Recommendatory; addressed to member states, the UN system and stakeholders.
- Instrument type
- Policy
- Status
- Adopted
- Legal force
- Non-binding (guidance, strategy or standard)
- Issuing body
- United Nations General Assembly
- Adopted
- 21 March 2024
- Official source
- A/RES/78/265
- Verification
- Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026
What is UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI?
The first General Assembly resolution on AI, adopted by consensus with more than 120 co-sponsors, encourages states to promote safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems that respect human rights and advance the Sustainable Development Goals, to close digital divides, and to develop governance frameworks and interoperable safeguards; it calls on companies to act responsibly. It was followed by resolution A/RES/79/325 (August 2025) establishing an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance under the Global Digital Compact.
Who does it apply to?
Recommendatory; addressed to member states, the UN system and stakeholders.
- Sectors
- Cross-sector / all sectors
- AI use cases
- AI in public services
When do the requirements apply?
2024-03-21: A/RES/78/265 adopted; 2024-09-22: Global Digital Compact; 2025-08-26: A/RES/79/325 creates the scientific panel and global dialogue.
Dates are taken from the linked official source; a reviewer should confirm in-force and application dates before relying on them.
Official sources
-
A/RES/78/265
United Nations General Assembly · 21 Mar 2024 · Tier 1 source
Cite this record
AIPolicyTracker (2026). “UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI” [AIPT-POL-0104, record version 1, verified 26 September 2026 by Bhaskar Bhatt]. https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0104 (accessed 27 October 2026). Data licensed CC BY 4.0.
Permanent id AIPT-POL-0104: it never changes or gets reused, and its address keeps working if this page moves.
Cite the official text alongside it: A/RES/78/265, United Nations General Assembly, https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/78/265.
BibTeX
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_ungeneralassemblyresolut,
author = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
title = {{UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/un-general-assembly-resolution-78-265-on-ai}},
url = {https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/un-general-assembly-resolution-78-265-on-ai},
urldate = {2026-10-27},
note = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026}
}
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Record history
No change to this record's tracked fields has been recorded since 15 October 2026, when field-level history began.
Record version 1: Added in the September 2026 global coverage expansion from the official source listed; reviewer to confirm dates, status and scope against the source text. Every earlier wording is in the GitHub repository.
Frequently asked questions
Is UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI in force?
Not yet. UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI has been adopted (21 March 2024).
Is UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI legally binding?
No. UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI is a policy; it sets expectations rather than legal requirements, unless another instrument gives it force.
Who does UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI apply to?
Recommendatory; addressed to member states, the UN system and stakeholders.
When does UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI apply?
2024-03-21: A/RES/78/265 adopted; 2024-09-22: Global Digital Compact; 2025-08-26: A/RES/79/325 creates the scientific panel and global dialogue.
Where is the official text of UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI?
The official text is published by United Nations General Assembly at https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/78/265 (A/RES/78/265). This record links to it and is checked against it.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.