Privacy and Data Protection Statement

1. Introduction and Commitment to Privacy

The African Quarterly Social Science Review (AQSSR), published by AJER Publishing, is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and personal information of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, research participants, and other individuals who interact with the journal.

The journal recognises that responsible management of personal information is essential to maintaining trust, research integrity, and ethical scholarly communication.

Names, email addresses, institutional affiliations, and other personal information submitted through the journal's website are used for legitimate scholarly publishing, editorial, administrative, and related operational purposes.

AQSSR does not sell personal information or disclose it to third parties for unrelated commercial advertising or marketing activities.

This statement explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, protected, and disclosed in connection with the journal's publishing activities.

2. Scope of the Privacy Statement

This statement applies to personal information collected or processed through AQSSR's official website, manuscript submission system, editorial communications, peer review processes, and related journal activities.

It covers information relating to authors, co-authors, peer reviewers, editors, Editorial Board members, registered readers, website users, and individuals communicating with the journal.

The statement also addresses the journal's responsibility to protect confidential information contained in submitted social science research, including information relating to research participants where applicable.

3. Collection of Personal Information

AQSSR collects personal information necessary for the administration of its scholarly publishing activities.

Depending on the nature of an individual's interaction with the journal, this information may include:

  • Full names and professional titles.

  • Email addresses and contact information.

  • Institutional affiliations and professional positions.

  • Academic qualifications and research expertise.

  • ORCID identifiers and other scholarly identifiers.

  • Manuscript submission details and correspondence.

  • Peer review reports and editorial assessments.

  • Publication history and authorship information.

  • Information relating to publication fees and payment confirmation.

  • Technical information associated with website access, where collected.

The journal seeks to collect only information that is relevant and reasonably necessary for legitimate publishing operations.

4. Purposes of Personal Data Processing

Personal information collected by AQSSR is used for legitimate scholarly publishing and journal administration purposes.

These purposes include:

  1. Registering and managing journal user accounts.

  2. Receiving, processing, and tracking manuscript submissions.

  3. Communicating with authors regarding editorial decisions and publication requirements.

  4. Identifying, inviting, and coordinating peer reviewers.

  5. Supporting editorial assessment and peer review.

  6. Managing manuscript revisions, acceptance, and publication.

  7. Maintaining accurate authorship and publication records.

  8. Registering and maintaining article metadata and persistent identifiers.

  9. Processing publication-related administrative and financial records.

  10. Responding to enquiries, complaints, appeals, and ethical concerns.

  11. Maintaining website functionality, security, and technical performance.

  12. Complying with applicable legal, regulatory, and scholarly publishing obligations.

Personal information is not used for unrelated purposes without an appropriate lawful basis.

5. Confidentiality of Manuscripts and Research Information

AQSSR recognises that social science manuscripts may contain confidential information relating to individuals, communities, institutions, organisations, and research participants.

The journal maintains appropriate confidentiality safeguards throughout the editorial and peer review process.

Unpublished manuscripts, peer review reports, editorial assessments, and related communications are accessible only to authorised individuals who require the information to perform legitimate editorial responsibilities.

Editors and reviewers must not disclose or misuse confidential manuscript information.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that research participants' identities, personal information, interview responses, and other sensitive research materials are appropriately protected.

Where research involves identifiable participants, authors must comply with applicable consent, confidentiality, and ethical approval requirements.

The journal may require the removal or anonymisation of information that creates unjustified privacy risks.

6. Disclosure and Sharing of Personal Information

AQSSR does not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

Personal information may be shared where reasonably necessary for legitimate publishing operations, including with:

  1. Authorised editors, reviewers, and journal administrators.

  2. AJER Publishing personnel responsible for publishing operations.

  3. Service providers supporting website hosting, manuscript management, technical maintenance, or secure communication.

  4. DOI registration agencies, scholarly indexing services, and metadata repositories.

  5. Relevant institutions or authorities where disclosure is legally required or necessary for an appropriate publication ethics investigation.

Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose is disclosed.

Authors' names, institutional affiliations, ORCID identifiers, and other bibliographic details may become publicly available as part of the scholarly publication record.

Confidential research participant information is not intentionally disclosed as part of journal administration unless disclosure is lawful, appropriately authorised, and consistent with applicable ethical requirements.

7. Data Security and Protection

AQSSR implements appropriate organisational and technical measures intended to protect personal information against unauthorised access, accidental loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

These measures include appropriate access controls, administrative safeguards, secure account management, and technical maintenance of the journal's publishing infrastructure.

Access to confidential personal information is restricted to individuals with legitimate operational responsibilities.

The journal periodically reviews its information security arrangements and takes appropriate steps to address identified risks.

Although reasonable security measures are maintained, no electronic information system can guarantee absolute protection against every possible security threat.

8. Data Retention and Preservation

AQSSR retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil legitimate publishing purposes, comply with applicable legal obligations, resolve disputes, and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Information relating to published articles, authorship, editorial decisions, and publication history may require long-term retention because of its continuing scholarly and administrative significance.

Other personal information is reviewed and deleted, anonymised, or otherwise appropriately managed when it is no longer required, subject to applicable legal and operational obligations.

Requests for deletion or correction are considered in accordance with applicable data protection requirements and the journal's legitimate obligations to preserve publication records.

9. Cookies and Website Information

AQSSR's website may use cookies, session identifiers, and other technical mechanisms necessary for user authentication, website functionality, security, and the operation of its publishing platform.

Where additional analytics or optional tracking technologies are used, the journal provides appropriate information and obtains consent where required by applicable law.

Users may manage cookies through their browser settings, although disabling essential cookies may affect certain website functions.

The journal does not authorise the use of its website for third-party commercial advertising or unrelated advertising-based profiling.

10. Rights of Individuals

Subject to applicable data protection laws, individuals whose personal information is processed by AQSSR may have rights to:

  1. Request access to personal information held about them.

  2. Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.

  3. Request deletion of personal information where legally applicable.

  4. Object to or request restriction of certain processing activities.

  5. Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

  6. Request information about how their personal data is used or disclosed.

  7. Raise concerns or complaints regarding the handling of personal information.

The journal considers such requests in accordance with applicable legal requirements and its responsibilities as a scholarly publisher.

Certain information may need to be retained to preserve the integrity of published research, fulfil legal obligations, or maintain legitimate editorial records.

11. Third-Party Websites and External Services

AQSSR may provide links to external scholarly databases, DOI registration services, institutional repositories, indexing platforms, or other websites.

These external services operate under their own privacy policies and data protection arrangements.

AQSSR is not responsible for the privacy practices of independently operated third-party websites.

Users are encouraged to review the privacy statements of external services before providing personal information.

12. Privacy Complaints and Enquiries

Individuals with questions, concerns, or complaints regarding the collection, processing, retention, or disclosure of personal information may contact the AQSSR editorial office through the journal's official communication channels.

Privacy-related enquiries are assessed confidentially where appropriate and addressed in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Where necessary, concerns may be referred to the responsible personnel within AJER Publishing for further review.

13. Policy Implementation and Review

The Chief Editor, Editorial Board, and AJER Publishing are responsible for implementing this Privacy and Data Protection Statement.

The journal periodically reviews its privacy practices to reflect developments in data protection requirements, scholarly publishing standards, and information security practices.

Any material changes to this statement are communicated through the journal's official website.

AQSSR remains committed to protecting personal information, safeguarding research confidentiality, and maintaining responsible data management practices throughout the scholarly publishing process.

African Quarterly Social Science Review (AQSSR)
AJER Publishing