Confidentiality Protocols

ACADEMIA Tech Frontiers Journal (ATFJ)
https://academia.edu.pk/index.php/atfj

At ACADEMIA Tech Frontiers Journal (ATFJ), confidentiality is a cornerstone of our editorial integrity and professional responsibility. These protocols define the expectations and obligations of editors, reviewers, and journal staff to ensure the secure, ethical, and impartial handling of all manuscripts and related communications throughout the editorial lifecycle.

1. Confidentiality of Manuscripts

For Editors

  • All submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential, proprietary content.

  • Editors must not disclose, copy, or use manuscript data or ideas for any personal, professional, or academic purposes.

  • Unpublished content must never be shared externally or used without express permission.

For Reviewers

  • All manuscript content must be handled as confidential intellectual property.

  • Reviewers must not share, distribute, or discuss the manuscript with colleagues or third parties unless explicitly approved by the editorial office.

  • Any manuscript files should be securely stored and deleted upon completion of the review process.

For Journal Staff

  • Access to manuscripts is strictly limited to assigned editorial team members.

  • Staff must use secure, password-protected systems to manage and store files.

  • Unauthorized access, use, or sharing of manuscript materials is strictly prohibited.

2. Confidentiality of the Peer Review Process

Double-Blind Review Model
ATFJ operates a double-blind peer review system to ensure impartiality:

  • Authors’ identities are not revealed to reviewers

  • Reviewer identities are not disclosed to authors

  • Editors must verify that manuscript files and communications do not contain identifying information

Reviewer Anonymity

  • Reviewer identities are strictly confidential

  • Reviewer details must not be revealed to authors, other reviewers, or external entities

  • Submission systems and email communications must be configured to preserve anonymity

3. Confidential Correspondence

With Authors

  • All editorial communications, including decision letters, reviewer reports, and revision instructions, are confidential.

  • Authors may not publicly share or distribute this correspondence without prior permission.

With Reviewers

  • All interactions between editors and reviewers are confidential.

  • Feedback submitted by reviewers is anonymized and must not include any self-identifying content.

4. Data Protection and Secure Storage

System Access

  • Access to ATFJ’s manuscript management system is restricted to authorized personnel.

  • All users must safeguard login credentials and use secure networks/devices for access.

Secure File Handling

  • Manuscripts must be stored on password-protected, encrypted devices.

  • Cloud storage should be avoided unless it complies with institutional or international data protection policies.

  • File sharing outside the editorial system is not permitted without approval.

5. Post-Decision Confidentiality

Rejected Manuscripts

  • Materials from rejected manuscripts remain confidential, including peer reviews and internal editorial notes.

  • Editors and reviewers may not use, cite, or disseminate unpublished findings or ideas.

Published Manuscripts

  • Although published content is open-access, the editorial decision process, review history, and reviewer identities remain confidential permanently.

6. Handling Breaches of Confidentiality

Reporting Violations
Any actual or suspected breach must be reported immediately to the ATFJ editorial office. A formal review process will be initiated, and affected parties will be notified.

Consequences of Breach
Violations may result in:

  • Termination of reviewer/editorial board membership

  • Suspension or revocation of platform access

  • Notification to the violator’s affiliated institution

  • Referral to ethical bodies such as COPE

7. Ongoing Commitment to Ethical Practice

ATFJ aligns with the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other internationally recognized publishing bodies. All parties involved in the journal’s publication process are expected to uphold these confidentiality principles in full.