Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

IJMDS may collect the following personal information:

• Name, email address, institutional affiliation, and contact details of authors, reviewers, and editors
• Manuscript-related information, including author biographies, ORCID IDs, and research interests
• Website usage data such as IP address, browser type, and access logs for security and analytical purposes

2. Use of Personal Information

Collected information is used exclusively for legitimate academic and editorial purposes, including:

• Managing manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial workflows
• Communicating editorial decisions, reviewer comments, and publication updates
• Publishing accepted manuscripts with appropriate author attribution
• Indexing, archiving, and promoting published research
• Sharing journal announcements, calls for papers, or updates (only with user consent, where applicable)

3. Confidentiality and Data Protection

• All submitted manuscripts and reviewer identities are treated as strictly confidential
• Personal data is not sold, rented, or shared with third parties for commercial or marketing purposes
• Access to personal information is restricted to authorized editorial staff and system administrators

4. Cookies and Website Tracking

The IJMDS website may use cookies to enhance user experience and analyze website traffic. Users may disable cookies through their browser settings without restricting access to journal content.

5. Third-Party Services

IJMDS may use trusted third-party services for journal operations, including:

• Turnitin for plagiarism detection
• CrossRef for DOI registration and citation linking
• Open Journal Systems (OJS) or similar platforms for manuscript management

These services operate under their respective privacy policies, and IJMDS ensures reasonable safeguards when engaging such services.

6. Data Retention

Personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill editorial, legal, and archival obligations. Users may request correction, update, or removal of their personal data by contacting the editorial office.

7. User Rights

Users have the right to:

• Access their personal information held by the journal
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or outdated data
• Withdraw consent for specific data usage, where applicable
• Report concerns or complaints related to data misuse or privacy breaches

8. Policy Updates

This Privacy Policy may be revised periodically to reflect changes in legal, technical, or operational requirements. Updated versions will be published on the journal website. Continued use of the IJMDS platform implies acceptance of the revised policy.