Research Stars Journals – GDPR and Data Protection Policy
Research Stars Journals is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and all users associated with the journal. The journal follows responsible data protection practices in accordance with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union and internationally accepted privacy standards.
This policy explains how personal information is collected, processed, stored, and protected during the manuscript submission, peer review, editorial, and publication processes.
- Purpose of Data Collection
Research Stars Journals collects personal information only for legitimate academic and publication-related purposes.
The collected information may be used for:
- Manuscript submission and processing
- Peer review management
- Editorial communication
- Publication and indexing processes
- Author identification and affiliation verification
- DOI and metadata registration
- Journal administration and record maintenance
- Ethical and publication integrity investigations when necessary
- Types of Personal Data Collected
The journal may collect the following information:
Author Information
- Full name
- Institutional affiliation
- Email address
- ORCID ID
- Contact details
- Country and academic designation
Reviewer and Editor Information
- Professional affiliation
- Academic expertise
- Contact information
- Review activity records
Website and Technical Information
- IP address
- Browser and device information
- Website usage statistics
- Cookies and session information
The journal collects only information necessary for publication and communication purposes.
- Lawful Basis for Data Processing
Personal data is processed based on:
- Author and reviewer consent
- Legitimate academic and publication interests
- Editorial and contractual obligations
- Legal and ethical publishing requirements
Submission of a manuscript or participation in peer review implies consent for necessary data processing related to scholarly publication activities.
- Confidentiality and Data Protection
Research Stars Journals maintains strict confidentiality of all submitted materials and personal information.
The journal ensures:
- Secure storage of manuscript and user data
- Restricted access to authorized personnel only
- Confidential blind peer review procedures
- Protection against unauthorized disclosure or misuse
Reviewer identities are protected under the blind peer review system unless disclosure is officially approved.
- Data Sharing Policy
Personal data will not be sold, rented, or shared with unauthorized third parties.
Limited information may be shared only with:
- Editorial board members
- Peer reviewers
- Indexing and abstracting agencies
- DOI registration agencies
- Publishing and archiving services
Such sharing is restricted solely for scholarly publishing and indexing purposes.
- Data Retention Policy
Research Stars Journals may retain publication-related records for academic, legal, indexing, and archival purposes.
This may include:
- Submitted manuscripts
- Reviewer reports
- Editorial communications
- Author metadata
- Published article information
Retained data is stored securely and managed according to publication integrity requirements.
- Author and User Rights Under GDPR
In accordance with GDPR principles, users may have the right to:
- Access their personal data
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Request deletion of personal data where legally applicable
- Restrict certain data processing activities
- Withdraw consent where applicable
- Request clarification regarding stored information
Requests may be subject to publication record preservation and scholarly integrity obligations.
- Cookies and Website Usage
The journal website may use cookies and analytics tools to:
- Improve website functionality
- Monitor traffic and performance
- Enhance user experience
- Maintain website security
Users may manage browser cookie settings independently.
- Third-Party Services
The journal may use trusted third-party services for:
- DOI registration
- Plagiarism screening
- Website hosting
- Indexing and archiving
- Editorial management systems
These services are expected to maintain appropriate data protection and confidentiality standards.
- Data Security Measures
Research Stars Journals adopts reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect personal information from:
- Unauthorized access
- Data misuse
- Loss or destruction
- Cybersecurity threats
- Accidental disclosure
However, no online system can guarantee absolute security.
- Policy Updates
The journal reserves the right to update or modify this GDPR and Data Protection Policy when necessary to comply with legal, ethical, technological, or publication requirements.
Updated policies will become effective upon publication on the journal website.
- Contact and Data Protection Queries
Questions related to privacy, data protection, or GDPR compliance may be addressed to the official editorial office of Research Stars Journals through the journal’s official communication channels.
Research Stars Journals – Privacy and Ethical Commitment
Research Stars Journals is dedicated to:
- Ethical scholarly publishing
- Responsible data management
- Confidential peer review
- Academic transparency
- Privacy protection and digital security
The journal values the trust of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers and strives to maintain responsible and secure publication practices.