Privacy Policy and Data Protection

The journal is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal information collected from authors, reviewers, editors, and website users. This policy outlines how data is collected, processed, stored, and safeguarded in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

 

  1. Information We Collect

   We may collect the following types of information:

   1.1 Personal Information

  • Name, institutional affiliation, and academic titles
  • Email address and contact details
  • ORCID ID and other academic profile identifiers
  • Biographical details provided during submission

   1.2 Manuscript-Related Information

  • Manuscript files, supplementary materials, cover letters, and revisions
  • Authorship contributions and reviewer comments
  • Ethical approval documents where applicable

   1.3 Technical Information

  • IP addresses, browser type, device information, and operating system
  • Pages visited, session duration, and access logs
  • Cookies and web analytics data (see Cookies section)
  1. How We Use Your Data

   The information collected is used for the following purposes:

  • Managing the manuscript submission and peer review process
  • Communicating with authors, reviewers, and editors
  • Publishing scholarly articles and maintaining accurate academic records
  • Improving website performance and user experience
  • Ensuring compliance with ethical, legal, and publishing standards
  • Providing notifications about publication decisions, updates, or policy changes

   We do not sell or share personal information for commercial purposes.

  1. Legal Basis for Processing

   We process personal data under the following legal bases:

  • Contractual necessity: to manage manuscript submission, review, and publication
  • Legitimate interests: to maintain editorial operations, improve services, and prevent misconduct
  • Consent: for optional services such as newsletter subscriptions
  • Legal compliance: to meet statutory requirements, resolve disputes, and ensure research integrity
  1. Data Retention
  • Manuscript files, peer review reports, and editorial records may be retained indefinitely for scholarly and archival purposes.
  • User account information is retained for as long as the account remains active.
  • Data may be anonymised and preserved for research integrity and historical record-keeping.

   Retention periods comply with ethical publishing practices and academic preservation standards.

  1. Data Security

   We use technical and organisational measures to safeguard personal data, including:

  • Encrypted data transmission (SSL/HTTPS)
  • Secure servers and access-controlled systems
  • Regular security audits and backups
  • Restricted access to editorial and administrative staff
  • Protection against unauthorised access, alteration, or disclosure

   Despite these measures, no data transmission over the internet is fully secure, and users provide information at their own risk.

  1. Your Rights

   Depending on applicable data protection laws, users may have the following rights:

  • Right to access your personal data
  • Right to rectify inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Right to request erasure ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to restrict or object to data processing
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time
  • Right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority

   Requests may be submitted through the contact information provided below.

  1. Third-Party Services

   We may use third-party providers to support journal operations, including:

  • Manuscript submission and editorial management systems
  • DOI registration agencies (e.g., Crossref, Zenodo)
  • Indexing and archiving services
  • Web analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)

   These providers comply with recognised data protection standards. Personal data is not shared beyond what is necessary for service delivery.

  1. Cookies and Tracking

   Our website uses cookies to enhance functionality and user experience.

  • Essential cookies: required for login and account management
  • Performance cookies: used to analyses traffic and improve the website
  • Functional cookies: remember user preferences
  • Analytics cookies: track usage statistics (anonymized where possible)

   Users can manage cookie settings through their browser at any time.

  1. Changes to This Policy

   We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements, technological advancements, or editorial practices.

   All changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.