British scholar: Break “data bottleneck” to ensure equal global access to digital heritage benefits

The “data bottleneck” refers to the fact that access to data remains uneven across different groups, said Gaygysyz Jorayev, Associate Professor at the Macao University of Tourism, when talking about challenges facing the digitalization of cultural heritage in a recent interview with Guangming Online.

Jorayev noted that while high-resolution cultural heritage data is being collected at an unprecedented scale worldwide, its sheer size and increasingly complex formats continue to hinder open access. He stressed that high-quality heritage data should be accessible to all communities — including developing countries and remote regions that often lack adequate digital infrastructure.

He urged technologically advanced nations to help build capacity in less-developed regions so they can benefit equally from digital innovation. He expressed hope that platforms such as the World Internet Conference will continue to strengthen international cooperation and translate shared principles into practical, scalable solutions.