Privacy Statement

Privacy statement introduction

Welcome to the Seismica Privacy Statement. Seismica and its hosting service, McGill Library Scholarly Publishing, are committed to respecting your privacy rights and protecting your personal data. Throughout this document ‘we’ refers to the journal Seismica and McGill Library Publishing. We recognise that data protection and privacy are a large responsibility. We strive to be consistent with industry standards, including the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provision for “data subject rights.” The GDPR also allows for the recognition of “the public interest in the availability of the data,” which has a particular saliency for those involved in maintaining, with the greatest integrity possible, the public record of scholarly publishing. 

Last updated 24 January 2023

How we collect data
We may collect personal data about you either directly from you or through automated technologies such as cookies (see separate cookie statement).

The data you provide
The data collected from registered and non-registered users of this journal falls within the scope of the standard functioning of peer-reviewed journals. Here we list some examples of the information we may collect from our website or via email, depending on the situation:
• Contact information, e.g., your name, email, address, affiliation, telephone number, social media handle, ORCiD, mailing address
• Demographic information (e.g., country, working languages, bio statement)
• Research specializations and interests
• Scientific review content
• Comments and feedback regarding the journal in general or its editing and handling of manuscripts
• Communication preferences and language preferences
• Username and password
We may automatically collect information from you when you use our website: IP address, date/time visited, page views, and browser information.

Additional data provided to Seismica via routes outside OJS
• Photos or video feeds, in particular, for publicizing your work and/or media interactions. For instance, these may be requested via a request from Media and branding and would be entirely voluntary.
• Payment information, such as a credit or debit card number for monetary transactions including, for instance, the purchase of Seismica merchandise.

The purposes for which we may use your data
• Contacting you or responding to you regarding editorial/publication processes or other queries you may have
• Informing the public about the authorship, reviewing, and editing processes
• Collecting anonymized, aggregated data on editorial, authorship, and readership behaviors and demographics
• Collecting and publishing reviews and creating a transparent review process with the goal of eliminating both biases and unconstructive reviews
• Notifying you about changes or updates to Seismica the journal, your manuscript status, or upcoming Seismica events
• Supporting continued excellence in editorial policies and procedures and enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives
• Investigating suspicious activity and keeping our website safe and secure
• Developing a diverse group of publishing scientists
• Understanding and correcting complications or issues in the publication process
• Publicizing your work
• Complying with legal or regulatory obligations
• For other purpose that we may notify you of, providing that we have sought your consent

Disclosure of information
We do not receive information from other sources. The data that we collect will assist in developing this publishing platform in an anonymized and aggregated form. We will not disclose your personal information to other third parties except as follows:
• If you voluntarily provide information to better publicize your work and enhance the impact of your article
• To comply with the law/law enforcement agency requests and related matters and/or keeping our site secure
• Where necessary in connection with our publishing services, providing we have your consent

The data will not be sold by this journal or developer Public Knowledge Project.

International transfers
Seismica is an international journal supported by the efforts of a large international volunteer base. We may transfer your data outside of your country of residence for the following main reasons:

• During the normal journal publication processes and/or other processes you have requested
• To support our efforts in continued excellence in editorial policies and procedures and enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives
• Where requested by law
However, given our international base, data may be transferred for any purposes of data collection previously stated.

Voluntary Disclosure
Information that you voluntarily disclose to other users - such as email address or username - via open reviews or comments could be collected and disclosed by others. Seismica does not take responsibility for such disclosure or collection activities.

Data security in storage, processing and transport
You voluntarily agree to transfer the data that you have submitted to us for storing, processing, or transport within Seismica, McGill Library Scholarly Publishing, or Public Knowledge Project. We will take actions to the best of our abilities to ensure that your data is treated securely. We strive be make our practices consistent with global data protection laws. However, you should be aware that we are a not for profit, purely volunteer based journal.
In addition, we acknowledge that data transmission via the internet is never completely secure. While we will do our best to protect your personal data, transmission is at your own risk. We will use the resources that are reasonably available to Seismica to prevent unauthorized access to such information.

Data retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the services of Seismica and fulfil the transactions you have requested. We also retain data for other essential purposes such as operating and improving the journal in general, especially via anonymized efforts to enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion, and complying with our legal obligations.

Your rights
You have the right to ask us to delete or not to process your information for specific purposes, change your preferences, review your details, and correct your details.  Please contact info@seismica.org to make such requests or changes.

Cookie statement  
Seismia uses cookies on its websites. For more information on cookies, please click here.