“Name The PrivCom Turtle” Competition Winners
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Bermuda [PrivCom] announced the winners of the “Name the PrivCom Turtle” competition.
A spokesperson said, “The P1 Bassett class at Heron Bay Primary School named our mascot “Isla”. As Isla is a female name, PrivCom decided to introduce Isla’s twin brother, “Islay”. The two are sure to add a bit of friendly mischief and adventure to our community while raising awareness of data privacy and digital safety.
“On Monday, 23rd of January, PrivCom introduced “Privacy Hour for Children” as part of the Data Privacy Week [DPW] 2023 festivities. During “Privacy Hour for Children”, primary school children and their teachers engaged in one hour dedicated to raising awareness of data privacy, online safety, and digital identities. Student activities included coloring and naming PrivCom’s new turtle mascot. PrivCom partnered with KPMG to provide a pizza party for the winning class of the “Name the PrivCom Turtle” activity.”
Assistant Commissioner/Head of Policy & Engagement, Cha’Von Clarke-Joell shared, “The story of the turtle’s name is quite endearing. Students of the P1 class submitted entries by entering their chosen name in the first name section of the form and the name “Isla” was the favorite of PrivCom’s team and the public via a LinkedIn poll. When we contacted the school to confirm the surname of the child, we learned that the child’s name is “Isla”. She submitted her turtle’s name in a different section of the form, so PrivCom thought her submission was “Isla”. How wonderful it is that the turtle mascot is named after an actual student on the island!”
The spokesperson said, “Throughout history, the turtle has been an important symbol across different societies and mythologies worldwide. It can be seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge, sturdiness, and longevity. It is also respected for its ability to explore on its own.
“PrivCom chose a turtle as its mascot not only because turtles – a protected species of marine reptiles who are, sadly, becoming less and less common in Bermuda due to the loss of their natural habitat – are an integral part of the local fauna, with juvenile green turtles growing up in the nearshore waters.
“Importantly, the turtle is a powerful metaphor for data privacy as it has an extra layer of protection: the shell. A turtle has a shell that protects it from external dangers both in the sea and on land and conceals its body: it is a safe space where the turtle may retreat when afraid or in jeopardy. In the same way, privacy is like a shell that covers and protects our personal information, including our thoughts, and emotions.
“A turtle can be vulnerable if its shell is cracked or damaged. Personal information can also be vulnerable if privacy is breached, which can lead to unwanted consequences, such as identity theft, financial fraud, or even emotional harm. Therefore, just as a turtle protects its shell, people should protect their privacy. This may involve being careful about what information is shared, and understanding who has access to personal information, and purposeful actions to secure it. By taking steps to protect privacy, individuals can feel safe and secure, just like a turtle in its shell.
“Here’s a fun fact about turtles: Mother turtles find a safe place to hatch their eggs, but they leave the eggs before they hatch, hoping that the sacrifice will keep the hatchlings safe, secure, and protected from predators. Without the mother turtle around, the hatchlings learn to depend on each other and survive the wilderness independently. Although it doesn’t sound ideal, it’s the circle of life for our turtle friends.
“Human parents also make sacrifices to protect children from danger in the physical world but may not realize the full range of predators that exist in the cyber world, such as pop-up videos with inappropriate graphics, videos, and scary mature content that a child’s brain is not likely equipped to manage. Many parents allow their children to use the internet to learn how to use modern technology and to entertain themselves but without support and guidance, the young people are left to develop creative resilience on their own to protect themselves online.
“Often, the amount of guidance and protection a parent gives to the child is based on the values of the household and how wise, strong, and independent the parent believes the young person would be while navigating the internet on their own. Unlike the turtle mother that abandons her young to protect them from predators, human parents may allow their children to wander online without fully realizing the types of protection they need to survive the cyber world.
“When we consider this view of how turtles and humans protect their young, and through positive, preventative, and proactive actions, data privacy can be seen as a metaphorical turtle shell that protects children online. Parents can teach their children to be like baby turtles by teaching them to turn to safety – someone they trust – when they feel threatened by a “predator”, on or offline as a turtle naturally retreats into its shell when it feels afraid or unsafe. Just like turtles, we all need the protective shell of data privacy, and the Personal Information Protection Act [PIPA] 2016 does exactly that!”
Alexander White, Privacy Commissioner of Bermuda, added his thoughts: “We are so excited to introduce the community to our new office mascot, not only because sea turtles are a beautiful representative of Bermuda: with their protective shell and measured pace, they serve as a vivid reminder to take your time and stay safe – online and offline, on the island and off island!”
The spokesperson said, “Business leaders and the general public that are looking to learn more about data privacy, PIPA, and how it relates to and impacts individuals, as well as businesses and other entities in Bermuda can review our Downloadable Guidance, SME Hub, or book a place on one of PrivCom’s free training courses in 2023.
“PrivCom also invites teachers and schools that would like the Engagement Team to host a privacy-related lesson, reading, or school assembly or to present at a teachers’ development day or PTA meeting can book here. Educators of all levels of learning can join the Teacher’s Circle Quarterly Mastermind to help develop information privacy and Bermuda’s Personal Information Protection [PIPA] educational awareness.”
