The right balance must be struck as measures are introduced to protect public privacy, according to the opening speakers of the 45th Global Privacy Assembly Annual Meeting last night.

The conference, organised by the Global Privacy Assembly, has brought together hundreds of international regulators and policymakers at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club to discuss global technology and data issues.

Charlotte Andrews, the head of cultural heritage for the Bermuda National Trust, compared the challenges of data privacy to the challenges of protecting heritage, in her keynote speech to attendees.

She said the challenge in both is to find solutions that respect and benefit different people’s perspectives and needs.

“Whether for world heritage or privacy, we must think both within and beyond our own personal, institutional and national positioning towards both local benefits and global goals,” she said.

Dr Andrews highlighted Bermuda’s rich cultural history and how technology could be used to highlight a wider variety of perspectives and voices.

“I believe that in Bermuda, and with our partners, we need to prioritise building a holistic digital infrastructure for heritage management and community participation,” she said.

“Just as bridges connect our archipelago of islands, I see great potential in leveraging the public access possibilities of IT for the heritage process to forge connections, expand our story and the number and diversity of storytellers who tell it.

“I envisage an online portal that will unite Bermuda’s wealth of cultural resources, support work and collaboration across Bermuda’s cultural sector and which is built on community participation.”

Dr Andrews said such a portal could link cultural spaces locally and internationally, but the focus initially should be on Bermuda’s Unesco World Heritage Site, the Town of St George and its fortifications.

“Without even a website for Bermuda world heritage at this time, we could make a quantum leap in heritage management, interpretation and community involvement by establishing a collective digital portal,” she said.

However, she warned that such a digital dream could become a nightmare if data is misused, manipulated or weaponised.

She asked: “How do we allow different perspectives to sit together rather than quashing each other? How do we avoid the dangers of a single story, fixed identities and static notions of heritage?

“How do we make room for counter narratives and dissonant views? How do we avoid private and commercial control over such a community-owned project that could be monetised to support our non-profits in their missions, such as our world heritage site?”

The Governor, Rena Lalgie, delivering her opening remarks, said a balance needed to be stuck between protecting privacy and crafting legislation and policies that are too burdensome.

“Sometimes the challenges of compliance with the various legislation and frameworks has provoked some frustration among my colleagues, particularly as those frameworks have become more robust and impactful,” she said.

“The volume of the requests, the pressure to get decisions right and the consequences of noncompliance have required us to put the time and energy and attention into this area.

“But while I may have occasionally shared in the frustration of my colleagues, I have also developed a great respect for the discipline that well implemented frameworks can impose on the powerful for the importance of protecting the rights of the people that we serve.”

She said that Bermudians have had time to adapt to Pati legislation, and the island was preparing to take the next step in privacy protection legislation.

“That adjustment will undoubtedly bring challenges for many as a raft of new obligations on data processes and controllers come into effect, but the benefits I hope from this conference will be to raise greater awareness among those who need to comply as well,” she said.

“Awareness of the rights and obligations, and to ensure that we are doing our very best to protect the public.”

The conference continues this week.