Privacy Statement

The International Journal of Social Sciences (IJSS) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. This privacy statement explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected in accordance with recognised data protection principles and applicable regulations.

Information collected

IJSS collects personal information only when it is necessary for editorial, publishing, and communication purposes. The information collected may include, but is not limited to:

  • Names, institutional affiliations, and academic titles

  • Email addresses and contact details

  • ORCID iDs and researcher identifiers (where provided)

  • Manuscript metadata, including authorship and contribution details

  • Peer review records and correspondence

  • Website usage data collected through standard log files and cookies

Purpose of data collection

Personal data collected by IJSS are used exclusively for legitimate scholarly and administrative purposes, including:

  • Managing manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial decision-making

  • Communicating with authors, reviewers, and editorial board members

  • Publishing articles and maintaining accurate academic records

  • Indexing, archiving, and disseminating published research

  • Improving journal workflows and website functionality

Personal information is never collected for purposes unrelated to academic publishing.

Lawful basis for processing

IJSS processes personal data on the basis of informed consent, contractual necessity (e.g., submission and review processes), and legitimate academic interest. By submitting a manuscript, agreeing to review, or registering with the journal, individuals consent to the processing of their data for the stated purposes.

Data sharing and disclosure

IJSS does not sell, rent, or trade personal data. Limited data may be shared only when necessary and appropriate, such as with:

  • Editorial board members and reviewers involved in the evaluation process

  • Indexing services, archiving platforms, and scholarly databases

  • Technical service providers supporting journal hosting and management

Any data sharing is conducted with due care and solely for academic and operational needs.

Data storage and security

IJSS takes reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Data are stored securely and accessed only by authorised personnel involved in journal operations.

Personal data are retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil their intended purpose or to meet legal and scholarly record-keeping requirements.

Cookies and website analytics

The IJSS website may use cookies and basic analytics tools to enhance user experience and monitor site performance. These tools collect non-identifiable information such as browser type, pages visited, and access times. Users may disable cookies through their browser settings without affecting access to journal content.

Author and user rights

Authors, reviewers, and users have the right to:

  • Request access to their personal data held by IJSS

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Request deletion of personal data, where feasible and lawful

  • Withdraw consent for data processing, subject to editorial and legal obligations

Requests related to personal data may be submitted to the journal’s editorial office.

Confidentiality of peer review

All materials submitted to IJSS and all peer review communications are treated as confidential. Reviewer identities are protected in accordance with the journal’s review model, and submitted manuscripts are not disclosed beyond those directly involved in the editorial process.

Third-party links

The IJSS website may contain links to external websites. IJSS is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites, and users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they access.

Changes to this privacy statement

IJSS reserves the right to update or revise this privacy statement as necessary to reflect changes in legal requirements or journal practices. Any updates will be posted on the journal’s website, and continued use of the site constitutes acceptance of the revised statement.

Contact information

Questions or concerns regarding this privacy statement or the handling of personal data should be directed to the IJSS editorial office through the official journal contact channels.