At Critical Reviews in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CRBLS), we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our authors, reviewers, readers, and any other individuals who interact with the journal. This Privacy Statement explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

1. Information We Collect:

We collect personal information that is necessary for the journal’s operations, including manuscript submission, peer review, editorial decision-making, and communication with authors and readers. The types of personal information we may collect include:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, institutional affiliation, phone number, and other contact details of authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.
• Manuscript Information: Title, abstract, keywords, and full text of manuscripts submitted to the journal, along with any supplementary materials (figures, tables, etc.).
• Peer Review Information: Names, academic affiliations, and contact details of reviewers, as well as any comments or feedback they provide during the peer review process.
• Usage Data: Information about how users interact with our website, including IP addresses, browser types, and page views. This helps us improve the user experience and maintain the journal's functionality.

2. How We Use Your Information:

We use the information we collect for specific purposes, including:

• Manuscript Submission: To process and review submitted manuscripts, facilitate the peer review process, and communicate with authors regarding manuscript status.
• Peer Review and Editorial Process: To facilitate the peer review process by contacting reviewers, collecting feedback, and making editorial decisions.
• Communication: To notify authors, reviewers, and readers about manuscript status, upcoming issues, journal updates, and related topics.
• Website Functionality and Improvement: To analyze website usage, improve user experience, and ensure the proper functioning of our platform.

3. Sharing of Personal Information:

We do not share your personal information with third parties, except as described below:

• Peer Review: When submitting a manuscript, your information (e.g., name, manuscript title, abstract) will be shared with peer reviewers to facilitate the review process. Reviewers’ identities are kept confidential, and all communications with reviewers are managed through the editorial office.
• Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers (e.g., hosting providers, manuscript tracking systems) who assist in the operation of the journal. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purpose of providing their services.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose personal information if required by law or legal processes, such as in response to a subpoena or government request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.

4. Data Security:

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption, secure servers, and access controls. However, no method of data transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

5. Data Retention:

We retain personal data for as long as it is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, as required by law, or for the duration of the manuscript's lifecycle (including peer review, publication, and archival purposes). Once the data is no longer needed, it will be securely deleted or anonymized.

6. Rights of Individuals:

Depending on the applicable data protection laws, individuals may have the following rights concerning their personal data:

• Access: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: You have the right to request corrections to any inaccurate personal data we hold.
• Deletion: You may request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain conditions (e.g., where we have a legal obligation to retain it).
• Objection: You may object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances, such as when we process it for legitimate business purposes.
• Withdrawal of Consent: Where we rely on your consent to process your data, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

CRBLS may use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website to improve functionality and monitor user activity. Cookies are small data files placed on your device when you visit our website. You can adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. However, some features of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.

8. Third-Party Websites:

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. Please be aware that this Privacy Statement applies only to the information collected by CRBLS. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies before submitting any personal information.

9. Updates to This Privacy Statement:

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Statement periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your personal information.