Privacy Statement

The Episteme Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences (EJHS) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all users, including authors, reviewers, editors, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in connection with our peer-reviewed open-access journal website and editorial services.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our website and editorial portal, we may collect the following types of information:

  • Personal Identification & Profile Details: Your name, academic designation, institutional affiliation, postal address, country, and ORCID ID.
  • Contact Information: Your email address, telephone number, and direct correspondence with the journal editorial office.
  • Scholarly & Workflow Data: Information relating to manuscript submissions, authorship, peer-review reports, revision histories, and publication records.
  • Financial & Billing Information: Transaction status, billing details, and payment references if processing article processing charges (APCs) or membership fees. (Note: Complete payment-card or banking credentials are securely handled directly by accredited third-party payment service providers and are not stored by EJHS).
  • Technical & Usage Data: Standard log information such as your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, pages visited, access times, and referring websites.
  • Feedback & Support: Information submitted voluntarily through contact forms, surveys, or support queries.

2. How We Use Information

We utilize the collected information for lawful academic and operational purposes, including:

  • Managing the Editorial Workflow: Processing manuscript submissions, coordinating double-blind peer reviews, managing editorial assignments, and executing publication workflows.
  • Communication: Corresponding with authors, reviewers, editors, and readers regarding submissions, editorial decisions, journal announcements, and support requests.
  • Platform Security & Optimization: Operating, analyzing, securing, and improving the functionality and performance of our website and submission portal.
  • Publication Ethics & Compliance: Fulfilling legal, regulatory, tax, audit, and publication-ethics obligations (such as preventing plagiarism and handling copyright or retraction notices).

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

EJHS and authorized service providers may use cookies, local storage, and similar technologies to enhance user experience, ensure website security, remember user preferences, and analyze website traffic. You can configure your browser settings to reject or delete cookies, though disabling necessary cookies may impact website functionality.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information for commercial gain. We may share your data only when reasonably necessary with:

  • Editors and Reviewers: For the legitimate execution of the double-blind peer-review process (anonymized where appropriate).
  • Service Providers: Trusted hosting partners, security platforms, email service providers, DOI registration agencies, and payment processors who are bound by strict contractual confidentiality obligations.
  • Legal & Regulatory Authorities: When required to comply with applicable laws, court orders, or formal legal processes, or to address publication misconduct and fraud protection.

5. Data Security

We implement robust administrative, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard your personal and demographic information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Access to personal information is strictly restricted to authorized personnel who require it for operational purposes.

6. External Links

Our website may contain links to external third-party websites or digital repositories that are beyond our control. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such external sites and encourage users to review their respective privacy policies.

7. Changes to This Privacy Policy

EJHS reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any modifications will be posted directly on this page with a revised effective date.

8. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is managed, please contact the EJHS Editorial Office or Data Protection Officer through our contact portal.