The first step of the balance is to ensure that open government actually does not jeopardize the protection of personal information. That is done through policies that will direct staff on how to put information forward in an open government context and through making sure that the technology, the electronic infrastructure that would support open government, is sound and cannot be compromised to reach protected personal information.
Should personal information be disclosed—because, for example, there is a consideration that it is within the public interest—then that “public interest” definition should be quite clear so that there is indeed consistency and legitimacy to that decision.