Privacy Statement

Protection and responsible use of personal information

Information Collected

The journal platform may collect names, email addresses, usernames, passwords, institutional affiliations, academic designations, postal addresses, telephone numbers, researcher identifiers, biographical information and other contact or professional details supplied by users. It may also retain information connected with manuscript submissions, peer review reports, editorial decisions, correspondence, publication records and account activity. Technical information, such as the user’s Internet Protocol address, browser details, access time and platform activity, may be processed where necessary for security, system maintenance and the proper functioning of the journal website.

Purposes of Processing

Personal information will be used exclusively for user registration, account management, manuscript submission, editorial assessment, peer review, copyediting, production, publication, indexing, scholarly communication and journal administration. Contact details may be used to send submission updates, review requests, editorial decisions, publication notices and other communications directly connected with the journal. Information may also be processed to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record, resolve technical concerns, prevent misuse of the platform, investigate suspected publication misconduct and fulfil applicable legal or regulatory obligations.

Access and Confidentiality

Access to personal information will be limited to authorised editors, reviewers, publishing personnel, technical administrators and service providers where such access is reasonably necessary for journal operations. Reviewers will receive only the information required to conduct an effective and fair assessment in accordance with the journal’s peer review procedure. Persons who obtain access to personal information through their journal responsibilities are expected to preserve confidentiality and must not use or disclose that information for unauthorised purposes.

Data Protection and Security

The journal will maintain reasonable technical and organisational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, improper alteration, disclosure, misuse or destruction. Such measures may include controlled account access, password protection, system monitoring, software maintenance and restricted administrative permissions. Although reasonable precautions will be adopted, no online platform or electronic transmission method can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users should therefore protect their login credentials and promptly report any suspected unauthorised use of their accounts.

Retention of Information

Personal information may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to manage journal activities, preserve the scholarly and editorial record, respond to disputes, investigate publication misconduct and comply with legal, contractual or professional obligations. Certain information connected with published articles, peer review, editorial decisions and publication history may need to be retained permanently to protect the accuracy, integrity and continuity of the scholarly record. Information that is no longer required may be securely deleted, anonymised or otherwise removed from active use where appropriate.

Disclosure of Information

Personal information will not ordinarily be disclosed to external parties except where disclosure is necessary for journal publication, platform operation, indexing, preservation, technical support or another legitimate publishing function. Limited information may also be disclosed where required by law, pursuant to a lawful direction from a competent authority, for the protection of legal rights or where reasonably necessary to investigate plagiarism, fabricated data, unethical authorship, manipulation of peer review or other suspected publication misconduct.

Rights of Users

Users may request access to the personal information associated with their accounts and may seek correction of information that is incomplete or inaccurate. A user may also request deletion or restriction of personal information, subject to applicable legal duties, contractual requirements, legitimate publishing interests and the need to preserve the scholarly record. Requests relating to published material, editorial decisions, peer review records or misconduct investigations may be restricted where deletion would affect academic integrity, accountability or the reliability of the publication record.

Changes to This Statement

The journal may revise this Privacy Statement when necessary to reflect changes in publishing practices, platform functions, legal requirements or data protection procedures. Any revised statement will be published on the journal website. Continued use of the platform after an updated statement is published will be governed by the version then in effect, subject to applicable law.