At JSTOR ONLINE, your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit or interact with our website, services, and publication platform.
JSTOR ONLINE is a product of Europeans24 Media Ltd., headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and operates in full compliance with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP) and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
1. Who We Are
JSTOR ONLINE is an independent, fully digital platform for academic publishing and journal access. We are not affiliated with JSTOR.org or ITHAKA, nor with any other academic platform such as Wiley, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, SSRN, or Sage Journals.
All activities, including content access, submission, and communication, are conducted exclusively through our website.
2. Information We Collect
We collect information to provide and improve our services. This includes:
a) Information You Provide Directly
- Account Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation (if applicable), password.
- Publishing Information: Manuscripts, metadata, author bios, citations.
- Support Communications: Emails or messages sent to our support team.
b) Information Collected Automatically
- Cookies and Tracking Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, access time, and referring websites.
- Device Information: Type of device, operating system, screen resolution.
You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but doing so may affect the functionality of the site.
3. How We Use Your Information
Your data is used to:
- Provide access to journals and content
- Manage publication workflows (submissions, peer review, indexing)
- Send important updates and service announcements
- Analyze site performance and improve user experience
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We do not use your data for unsolicited advertising or commercial resale.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Under the GDPR and Swiss law, we process your data based on the following legal grounds:
- Consent – when you explicitly agree (e.g., newsletter subscriptions)
- Contractual necessity – when using our platform requires account creation or publication
- Legal compliance – to fulfill regulatory obligations
- Legitimate interest – for security, analytics, and service improvement
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Data may be shared only with:
- Trusted service providers (e.g., hosting providers, analytics tools), under strict confidentiality agreements.
- Legal authorities, when required by law, regulation, or court order.
6. International Data Transfers
As a Swiss-based platform with a global audience, your data may be stored or processed in other countries. We ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for cross-border transfers, in compliance with GDPR Articles 44–49.
7. Data Retention
We retain your data only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. This includes:
- Published content: Retained indefinitely for academic reference.
- Account data: Retained until account deletion or inactivity beyond a defined period (e.g., 24 months).
- Log files and analytics: Retained for up to 12 months.
8. Your Rights
You have the following rights under GDPR and Swiss data law:
- Right to access – Request a copy of your personal data
- Right to rectification – Request corrections to inaccurate data
- Right to erasure – Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”)
- Right to restrict processing
- Right to data portability
- Right to object to processing
- Right to withdraw consent at any time
To exercise your rights, email us at: privacy@jstoronline.org
9. Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security protocols to protect your information, including:
- SSL encryption
- Access controls and authentication
- Regular data backups
- Secure server infrastructure
However, no method of digital transmission is 100% secure. We encourage users to protect their accounts with strong passwords and report any suspicious activity.
10. Third-Party Services
We may use third-party services for analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) or content delivery. These services may collect anonymized usage data according to their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing their terms for transparency.
11. Children’s Privacy
JSTOR ONLINE is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect data from minors. If you believe a child has submitted data, please contact us immediately.
12. Changes to This Policy
We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy as necessary. All changes will be posted on this page with the revised effective date. Continued use of the platform after updates constitutes your acceptance.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or data requests, please contact:
📧 Email: privacy@jstoronline.org
🏢 Mailing Address:
Europeans24 Media Ltd.
Zurich, Switzerland