Privacy Policies

The following statement outlines the Bulletin of Humanities and Social Sciences (BHSS) approach to privacy and its commitment to protecting the personal information of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. The editorial board recognizes its responsibility to promote and enforce strong privacy and ethical standards throughout the publication process.

While manuscript details may be shared with reviewers and editorial advisors as necessary during peer review, the journal treats the safeguarding of personal data with utmost seriousness. All information is managed in accordance with applicable legal requirements and established ethical standards in scholarly publishing.

In cases of substantiated misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, duplicate submission, falsification), the editorial board will investigate and take appropriate action, regardless of whether the manuscript is under review or already published.

Information Collected

In the course of providing publishing services, BHSS may collect the following categories of information:

  • Personal contact information (name, email address, institutional affiliation, postal address, phone number)

  • Academic qualifications, nationality, and professional background

  • Login credentials for the journal’s online submission system

  • Manuscript-related data such as submissions, reviewer comments, revisions, and editorial decisions

  • Communication preferences and declared interests or conflicts of interest

  • Technical information such as IP addresses and browser data related to website use

  • Sensitive information, where necessary, collected only with explicit consent

Use of Information

Publishing Services

Author names, affiliations, and biographical information are published as part of the scholarly record. Photographs or media materials may be used for academic or promotional purposes with prior consent.

Communication

With consent, the journal may send newsletters, publication updates, announcements, or calls for papers. Users may opt out of such communications at any time.

Editorial and Author Management

Information may be analyzed to:

  • Improve editorial workflows

  • Enhance user experience

  • Develop new services

  • Ensure quality control in the peer-review process

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

The journal may verify contributors, editors, or partners against applicable legal or regulatory requirements when necessary.

Protection of Data

BHSS implements appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information, including:

  • Secure electronic storage systems with restricted access

  • Confidentiality agreements for editorial staff and reviewers

  • Encrypted HTTPS protocols for data transmission

  • Oversight of international data transfers in accordance with recognized standards

  • Use of cookies to improve website functionality and user experience

  • Clear notification when third-party links (governed by separate privacy policies) are provided

Data Sharing

To deliver publishing services, BHSS may share limited information with trusted third parties, including:

  • Website hosting providers

  • Manuscript management system providers

  • Email communication services

  • Indexing and abstracting databases

  • Digital repositories and archiving services

  • Peer reviewers and editorial advisors

Information is shared strictly on a need-to-know basis and solely for legitimate scholarly publishing purposes.

Data Retention

Personal data are retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which they were collected and in compliance with applicable laws and academic publishing standards. Data that are no longer required are securely deleted or anonymized.

Published articles and associated metadata form part of the permanent scholarly record and may be retained indefinitely for archival and indexing purposes.

Authors’ and Users’ Rights

Authors and users have the right to:

  • Request confirmation of whether their personal data are held by the journal

  • Obtain access to a copy of their personal data

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Request deletion or restriction of processing where legally permissible

  • Object to the use of their personal data for specific purposes

Requests may be directed to the journal’s editorial office.

Policy Updates

BHSS reserves the right to update its Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legal requirements, industry best practices, or operational needs. Updated versions will be posted on the journal’s website. Users are encouraged to review the policy periodically.