Privacy Policy
International Journal of Engineering Research and Science (IJOER)
ISSN: 2395-6992 | GDPR Compliant | CCPA Compliant | Your Privacy Matters
Last Updated: 15 January 2025
This Privacy Policy describes how IJOER collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you interact with our engineering journal, submit manuscripts, serve as a reviewer, or visit our website.
Privacy Policy Navigation
1. Scope & Application
Who This Policy Applies To
This Privacy Policy applies to all users of IJOER services, including authors, reviewers, editors, readers, subscribers, and institutional partners.
2. Information We Collect
Data Minimization Principle
IJOER collects only the information necessary to provide our services and fulfill our editorial and publishing obligations.
| Category | Data Collected | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Identity Information | Full name(s), ORCID iD, professional titles, institutional affiliations | Authorship attribution, indexing |
| Contact Information | Email addresses, postal addresses, telephone numbers | Editorial correspondence, manuscript handling |
| Professional Information | Employment, qualifications, research specialties, publication history | Reviewer assignment, expertise matching |
| Account Information | Username, encrypted password, preferences, login history, IP addresses | System authentication, security |
| Manuscript & Submission Data | Manuscript files, metadata, author statements, disclosures | Peer review, publication, compliance |
| Financial Information | Billing addresses, invoice details, payment records (no credit card details) | Payment processing, financial records |
| Technical Information | IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited | Website optimization, security monitoring |
Payment Processing Notice:
IJOER does not store, process, or have access to your complete credit card details. All payment transactions are processed by our PCI-DSS compliant payment partners.
3. How We Collect Information
Information You Provide Directly
- Manuscript submission (author details, affiliation, contact information)
- Account creation (name, email, professional profile)
- Reviewer registration (qualifications, specialties, publication history)
- Email correspondence and support inquiries
Information Collected Automatically
- Log data (IP address, browser type, pages visited, timestamps)
- Device information (operating system, screen resolution)
- Cookies (session, preference, analytics cookies)
- Usage patterns (navigation paths, download activity)
4. How We Use Your Information
Core Editorial Functions
- Processing manuscript submissions and tracking status
- Assigning and managing peer reviewers
- Communicating editorial decisions
- Publishing and disseminating accepted articles
- Assigning DOIs and registering metadata with CrossRef
Account & Profile Management
- Creating and maintaining user accounts
- Authenticating user identity and access rights
- Managing reviewer profiles and expertise areas
- Personalizing user experience and preferences
What We Do NOT Do:
IJOER does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
5. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)
GDPR Compliance for EEA Residents
If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal information under the following legal bases.
| Legal Basis | Application at IJOER |
|---|---|
| Contract (Article 6(1)(b)) | Manuscript submission and peer review services |
| Legal Obligation (Article 6(1)(c)) | Tax records, legal reporting requirements | Legitimate Interests (Article 6(1)(f)) | Peer review quality assurance, journal improvement analytics |
| Consent (Article 6(1)(a)) | Marketing communications, cookie preferences |
6. Information Sharing & Disclosure
Service Providers
We share information with trusted third-party service providers:
- OJS Platform: Submission and peer review system
- CrossRef: DOI registration and metadata distribution
- Google Cloud/AWS: Secure cloud hosting
- iThenticate: Plagiarism screening
- Payment Processors: PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
Scholarly Infrastructure
We share publication metadata with scholarly databases:
- Google Scholar
- Index Copernicus
- Scilit
- BASE
- WorldCat (OCLC)
- CLOCKSS / Portico (digital preservation)
7. International Data Transfers
Global Operations
IJOER operates globally, and your information may be transferred to countries outside your country of residence.
Primary Processing Locations
- 🇮🇳 India: Editorial office, administrative processing
- 🇺🇸 United States: Cloud hosting, data storage
- 🇪🇺 European Union: Data backups, EU user data
Safeguards
- Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for EEA transfers
- Your explicit consent for specific transfers
8. Data Retention & Deletion
Retention Policy
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected.
| Data Category | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Published articles & author metadata | Permanent |
| Rejected manuscripts | 2 years after final decision |
| Reviewer reports | 5 years after publication/rejection |
| Author correspondence | 5 years after last contact |
| Financial records | 7 years (tax/legal requirements) |
| System logs | 30 days |
9. Data Security Measures
Encryption
AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit
Access Control
Multi-factor authentication, role-based permissions
Audit Logging
All access logged, reviewed quarterly
Security Certifications
10. Your Privacy Rights
Your Rights Under GDPR, CCPA, and Other Laws
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights.
GDPR Rights
- Right to access your personal data
- Right to rectification of inaccurate data
- Right to erasure ('right to be forgotten')
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
CCPA Rights (California)
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to delete personal information
- Right to opt-out of sale of personal information
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising rights
Note: IJOER does not sell personal information.
How to Exercise Your Rights:
Email us at info@ijoer.com with subject line "Data Subject Request: [Your Full Name]". We will respond within 30 days.
12. Children's Privacy
COPPA Compliance
IJOER is a professional engineering journal and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by posting the updated policy on this page.
Current Version:
v2.4
Effective: 15 January 2025
14. Contact Us
Data Protection Officer
Dr. Anjali Sharma, PhD, CIPP/E
Certified Information Privacy Professional
📧 Email:
📞 Phone:
Postal Address
IJOER Privacy Office
AD Publications
Mukta Prasad Colony
Bikaner, Rajasthan 334004
India