The independent public office tasked with protecting the rights of individuals in Bermuda in relation to their personal information is to receive a new Supervision and Enforcement Unit.

Gretchen Tucker, the Privacy Commissioner, will shortly be establishing the new unit at PrivCom.

An internal shuffling of staff will clarify responsibilities to assist the commissioner in connection with the Personal Information Protection Act 2016.

The commissioner has also confirmed a regulatory approach will be built around three core pillars of balance, trust and partnership, to ensure accountability and transparency.

To date, the largest unit at PrivCom has been the Operations Unit in alignment with staff appointments largely corresponding to PIPA pre-implementation preparations and financial matters.

The Investigations Unit was established by the first commissioner prior to their substantive supervision and enforcement powers coming into force in January 2025.

The development of a Supervision and Enforcement Unit at the public authority will assist Bermuda’s second Privacy Commissioner in the exercise of their supervision and enforcement powers.

The new unit will require investments to update digital infrastructure supporting the office’s relationship with stakeholders, such as updates to communication channels, its case management systems, website and forms used to engage with the public.

The Commissioner will further be engaging in recruitment for staffing at the Supervision and Enforcement Unit.