Privacy Policy
Last updated: November 2025
The Root Journals ("we", "us", "our", or "Company") operates the website. This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data when you use our service and the choices you have associated with that data.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
When you register as an author, reviewer, or subscriber, we collect: name, email address, institutional affiliation, and research interests.
Submission Data
We collect manuscript content, author metadata, and supporting documents submitted through our platform.
Usage Data
We automatically collect information about how you use our service including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on pages.
Cookies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, understand usage patterns, and provide personalized content.
How We Use Your Data
- ✓ Process and manage manuscript submissions and reviews
- ✓ Send you administrative and service-related communications
- ✓ Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
- ✓ Improve our platform and develop new features
- ✓ Analyze usage patterns and system performance
- ✓ Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
Data Protection & Security
🔐 Encryption
We use SSL/TLS encryption to protect data in transit and at rest.
🔒 Access Control
Access to personal data is restricted to authorized personnel only.
🛡️ Compliance
We comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant data protection regulations.
🚨 Incident Response
We have procedures in place to respond to data breaches promptly.
Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Erasure: Request deletion of your data (subject to legal requirements)
- Portability: Obtain your data in a portable format
- Objection: Opt-out of certain data processing activities
- Restriction: Restrict processing of your data
Data Retention
We retain personal data for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy. Specifically:
- Account Data: Retained while account is active, plus 3 years after closure
- Submission Data: Retained indefinitely for research integrity and archival purposes
- Usage Data: Retained for 12-24 months for analytics purposes
- Legal Records: Retained as required by applicable laws
Sharing Your Information
We may share your information with:
- ✓ Service Providers: Third parties who assist us (hosting, analytics, etc.)
- ✓ Academic Partners: For indexing and preservation services
- ✓ Law Enforcement: When required by law or to protect rights
- ✓ Other Users: Authors and affiliations are publicly listed in published articles
Exercise Your Rights
To access, modify, or delete your personal data, or to exercise any of your rights under this privacy policy, please contact us:
Data Protection Contact: