- Published articles and integrity notices: retained permanently.
- Submitted manuscripts, reviews and decisions: retained for a period to be confirmed (e.g. 10 years) after the final decision, to handle appeals and integrity investigations.
- Inactive accounts: may be anonymised on request where no editorial record requires retention.
- Contact messages: deleted after 24 months.
- Audit logs: retained for security and accountability.
Last updated 19 Oct 2026