1) Introduction and Data Controller Information

1.1 The International Journal of Psychology and Strategic Communication (IJPSC) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, processed, stored, and protected when using the journal website and related services.

Personal data refers to any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.

1.2 For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the controller responsible for data processing is:

International Journal of Psychology and Strategic Communication (IJPSC)
Widdersdorfer Str. 262
50933 Köln, Germany
Email: editor@ijpsc.org
Phone: +49 160 6695903

The controller determines the purposes and means of processing personal data collected through the journal website and associated publishing systems.

2) Website Access and Technical Data Collection

2.1 When visiting the website for informational purposes only, without registering or submitting information, certain technical information is automatically collected by the web server. These server log files may include:

• Accessed webpages and resources
• Date and time of access
• Volume of data transferred
• Referring website or source
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• IP address (where applicable, in anonymized form)

This information is processed to ensure website functionality, security, system administration, and technical performance. Processing is carried out pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR based on the journal’s legitimate interest in maintaining a secure and reliable online service.

2.2 The website uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect data transmitted between users and the website. Secure connections can be identified by the “https://” prefix and the lock symbol displayed in the browser.

3) Hosting and Technical Infrastructure

The IJPSC website is hosted by service providers operating within the European Union. Personal data collected through the website is processed and stored on secure servers maintained by these providers.

Appropriate data processing agreements have been established where required to ensure compliance with applicable data protection legislation and to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse of personal data.

4) Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure proper functionality, maintain user sessions, and improve the user experience.

Cookies may be either temporary session cookies, which are deleted when the browser is closed, or persistent cookies, which remain on a user’s device for a limited period.

Where cookies process personal data, such processing is carried out in accordance with applicable legal bases under the GDPR, including consent where required and legitimate interests relating to website functionality and security.

Users may configure their browser settings to accept, reject, or delete cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain website functions.

5) Contact Forms and Correspondence

When users contact IJPSC via email, contact forms, or other communication channels, personal information may be collected and processed for the purpose of responding to inquiries, providing support, and administering journal activities.

Such information is processed solely for the purpose for which it was provided and is not disclosed to third parties except where required by law or necessary for the administration of journal operations.

Personal data submitted through correspondence is retained only as long as necessary to process the request and comply with applicable legal obligations.

6) Accounts, Registration, and Submission Data

The International Journal of Psychology and Strategic Communication (IJPSC) uses the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform for manuscript submission, editorial workflow, peer review, and publication management.

User Accounts

Authors, reviewers, editors, and journal staff are required to create an account within the journal system in order to participate in submission, review, editorial, and publication activities.

Information Collected During Registration

Depending on the user’s role, the following information may be collected:

• Full name
• Institutional affiliation
• Email address
• Country of residence
• ORCID iD (where provided)
• Username and encrypted password
• Academic biography or professional profile
• Reviewing interests and areas of expertise

Additional information may be collected during manuscript submission, including:

• Author names and affiliations
• Corresponding author contact information
• Manuscript title, abstract, keywords, and references
• Funding information
• Conflict of interest disclosures
• Supplementary files and supporting documentation

Purpose of Processing

Personal data collected through the journal system is used exclusively for:

• Managing manuscript submissions
• Conducting peer review
• Editorial communication and decision-making
• Publication of accepted manuscripts
• DOI registration and indexing services
• Maintaining scholarly records and publication metadata
• Supporting research integrity and publication ethics

Reviewer information is used solely for editorial and peer-review purposes and remains confidential unless participation in an approved open peer review process has been explicitly agreed upon.

Publicly Available Information

Following publication, certain author information may become publicly available on the journal website and through scholarly metadata services, including:

• Author names
• Institutional affiliations
• ORCID iDs (where provided)
• Author biographies (where applicable)
• Corresponding author contact details, if intentionally published

Editorial board members may also have publicly available professional information relating to their journal responsibilities.

Data Retention and Security

Account information is retained as necessary to support journal operations, maintain publication records, and preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Appropriate technical and organizational measures are implemented within the OJS platform to protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss.

Users may request correction or deletion of personal data where legally permissible and where such requests do not conflict with publication integrity requirements, archival obligations, or legal retention requirements.

Questions regarding account data or privacy matters may be directed to the editorial office at editor@ijpsc.org.

7) Rights of Data Subjects

7.1 Under the GDPR, data subjects may have the following rights:

• Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR)
• Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR)
• Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR)
• Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR)
• Right to notification (Art. 19 GDPR)
• Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR)
• Right to withdraw consent (Art. 7(3) GDPR)
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR)

7.2 Right to Object

Where personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR, data subjects have the right to object to such processing on grounds relating to their particular situation.

The journal will cease processing the relevant data unless compelling legitimate grounds exist that override the interests, rights, and freedoms of the data subject or unless processing is required for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

8) Data Retention

Personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with legal, regulatory, editorial, and archival obligations.

Information associated with published articles may be retained indefinitely as part of the permanent scholarly record.

Where personal data is processed on the basis of consent, such information will be retained until consent is withdrawn, unless another lawful basis for retention applies.

Personal data that is no longer required for operational, legal, editorial, or archival purposes will be securely deleted or anonymized.