Regarding the Protection of Personal Information
Sankei Digital Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) handles the personal information of users of the Journal of Digital Life (collectively referred to as “this Service”, which includes all services provided both online via the domain journal-digitallife.com and offline) in compliance with applicable laws, such as the Personal Information Protection Law, and recognizes the importance of protecting personal information. The handling of personal information is carried out based on the “Journal of Digital Life Terms of Use” and this “Privacy Policy”. The details are as follows.

1. Definition of Personal Information
Personal information refers to information about a living individual as defined in the Personal Information Protection Act, including (but not limited to) names, birthdates, and other information that can identify a specific individual. This also includes information such as email addresses (user IDs), passwords, and other information linked to a specific individual, along with age and other attributes related to the individual. Additionally, it includes IP addresses, cookie data, information on pages viewed by the user, device information, access status to this service, behavioral history, and information on how the service is used.

2. Definition of Users in this Service
The definitions of terms in these terms of use are as follows:

1. “Member” refers to all users who have completed the registration process to use this service. Members include those who create accounts to use this service, such as “authors” who submit papers, as well as “editors,” and “reviewers.” It also includes corporations, organizations, and individuals participating in the Digital Life Alliance Program.
2. “Author” refers to all individuals who, through a registration process specified by the Company, have the right to submit their own written papers for publication requests within this service.
3. “Editor” refers to the individuals responsible for selecting reviewers for all papers handled by this service and making decisions regarding their acceptance or rejection.
4. “Reviewer” refers to the individuals who, together with the responsible editor, review all the papers handled by this service.
5. “Alliance Partner” refers to non-profit academic organizations or individual researchers participating in the Digital Life Alliance Program.
6. “Supporting Member” refers to corporations that participate in the Digital Life Alliance Program and pay an annual sponsorship fee of at least one unit to this service.
7. “User” refers to all users of this service, including both members and non-members.

3. Personal Information Collected by This Service, Its Purpose of Use, and Scope of Users
The personal information collected by the Company in connection with the provision of this service and its purposes of use are as follows:

1. From “Users”, the Company collects personal attribute information, IP addresses, cookie data, information on pages viewed, device information, access status to this service, behavioral history, and information related to the usage of the service. This information is used to display the service smoothly and to conduct access analysis aimed at improving the service. Google Analytics is used for access analysis. The use of Google Analytics involves the use of cookies and other data stored in the user’s browser. This data is sent to Google, where specific information may be processed. For details on the information collected by Google through Google Analytics, please refer to the following terms:
   Google Policies and Terms
   https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites?hl=en
   
   The Company uses Google Analytics to review and analyze information in a way that does not identify individual users. The data collected through Google Analytics may be used for explaining purposes to third parties. If you wish to disable cookies, please follow the steps on the Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on page:
   
   Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on Page
   https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
2. From “Authors”, in addition to the personal information listed in Section 1, the Company collects information such as the author’s name, contact details, affiliation, email address, and ORCID. In addition to the purposes mentioned in Section 1, this information is used for communication with the editorial office, such as notifications regarding paper acceptance or rejection, billing notices, and for the use of personal information in the paper review process. The author’s email address will also be displayed and used when the paper is published. Moreover, during the paper review process, the personal information mentioned above may be provided to editors and reviewers located in foreign countries. If there are co-authors, the author is required to obtain prior consent from the co-authors in accordance with the “Journal of Digital Life Submission Guidelines,” after which the Company will collect the co-authors’ personal information such as name, email address, and affiliation. The personal information of co-authors will be used for communication with the editorial office, the paper review process, and displayed alongside the co-authors’ names and email addresses when the paper is published. Additionally, during the paper review process, this personal information may be shared with editors and reviewers located abroad. This information may also be used for notifications about events hosted by this service, among other purposes.
3. From “Editors”, the Company collects personal information such as name, contact details, affiliation, email address, and ORCID. In addition to the purposes outlined in Section 1, this information is used for communication with the editorial office, notifications regarding payment of honoraria, and for purposes related to the paper review process as well as post-publication payments. Additionally, this information may be used for notifications about events hosted by this service, among other purposes.
4. From “Reviewers”, the Company collects personal information such as name, contact details, affiliation, email address, and ORCID. In addition to the purposes outlined in Section 1, this information is used for communication with the editorial office, notifications regarding payment of honoraria, and for purposes related to the paper review process as well as post-publication honoraria payments. Additionally, this information may be used for notifications about events hosted by this service, among other purposes.
5. From “Alliance Partners”, the Company collects personal information such as name, contact details, affiliation, email address, and other relevant information in addition to the information listed in Section 1. This information is used for the purposes outlined in Section 1, as well as for communication with the editorial office, notifications about events hosted by this service, and for providing services to “Alliance Partners”.
6. From “Supporting Member”, the Company collects personal information such as name, address, representative’s name, phone number, email address, and other relevant information in addition to the information listed in Section 1. This information is used for the purposes outlined in Section 1, as well as for communication with the editorial office, notifications about events hosted by this service, and for providing services to “Sponsors”.

4. Use Within the Scope of the Purpose
The Company will handle members’ personal information only within the scope necessary to achieve the purposes specified in Section 3. However, in the following cases, the Company may handle members’ personal information beyond the scope necessary to achieve the purpose that has been pre-specified and publicly disclosed, without obtaining prior consent from the members:

1. When required by law.
2. When it is necessary to protect human life, body, or property, and it is difficult to obtain the individual’s consent.
3. When it is particularly necessary for improving public health or promoting the sound development of children, and it is difficult to obtain the individual’s consent.
4. When it is necessary to cooperate with a national or local government agency, or an entity entrusted by such agencies, in the execution of duties prescribed by law, and obtaining the individual’s consent may interfere with the execution of those duties.
5. When the member is judged to cause harm to a third party.
6. When the member explicitly requests the disclosure or provision of their information to a third party.
7. When personal information is provided in the case of a merger or other business succession, and it will be handled within the scope of the purposes of use before the succession.

5. Methods of Collecting Personal Information
The methods of collecting personal information by the Company are as follows. The Company does not obtain personal information through fraudulent or other illegal means:

By agreeing to the “Journal of Digital Life Terms of Use” and entering the necessary information to register as a member or create a member account.
By obtaining information such as IP addresses and cookies from the user’s browser when the user accesses the website of this service.
By other methods based on prior consent to collect personal information.

6. Continuous Improvement
The Company will strive to respond appropriately to changes in the social environment regarding the handling of personal information. Additionally, the Company will make efforts to improve by making changes, modifications, or additions to this policy and other related regulations as necessary.

7. Outsourcing of Personal Information
The Company may outsource all or part of the operations related to this service to third parties with whom the Company has entered into contracts regarding personal information. The outsourcing parties will use personal information only to the extent necessary to perform the outsourced tasks, and will not use it for any other purposes. In such cases, the Company will select third parties deemed capable of properly handling personal information, and will establish appropriate terms in the outsourcing contract regarding matters such as safety management, confidentiality, conditions for sub-outsourcing, and other aspects of handling personal information. The Company will also provide necessary and appropriate supervision.

8. Provision of Personal Information
The Company may provide users’ personal information to third parties within the scope of the specified purposes of use. However, except in the following cases and where required by law, the Company will not disclose such information without the user’s consent:

1. When a request is made based on the Provider Liability Limitation Act (the Act on the Limitation of Liability of Specific Telecommunication Service Providers and the Disclosure of Sender Information).
2. When a lawful request is made under compulsion by authorities such as prosecutors, police, or regulatory agencies, or in cases of voluntary inquiries or requests that do not have legal compulsion, but where cooperation with the request or inquiry is necessary, and obtaining the user’s consent would hinder the purpose of the request or inquiry.
3. When the Company is involved in a lawsuit or other legal proceedings related to this service, and the information is required to be submitted to courts or other authorities as part of litigation materials.
4. When it is necessary to protect the life, body, or property of the user or others, and obtaining the user’s consent is deemed difficult.

9. Disclaimer Regarding Third-Party Provision of Personal Information
The Company will not be held responsible for the acquisition of personal information by third parties in the following cases:

1. When a member voluntarily discloses personal information to other members or individuals using the functions of this service or by other means.
2. When the information entered into this service unintentionally leads to the identification of the individual.
3. When personal information is provided by a member to an external site linked from this service, and that information is subsequently used.
4. When someone other than the member obtains information that can identify the member (such as an ID or password).

10. Transfer of Business
The Company may transfer its business division related to this service as part of business operations. In such cases, user information will generally be considered part of the business assets being transferred. However, the Company may transfer all or part of users’ personal information in order to continue providing the service to users or for other business purposes.

11. Handling in Conferences and Events
The Company may take photographs and video recordings at conferences and other events hosted by this service. These may be published on the service’s website, various social media platforms, and the Company’s media outlets. In particular, main speakers and award recipients are more likely to be featured, so please be aware of this in advance.

12. Changes to the Privacy Policy
The Company may revise all or part of the privacy policy without prior notice to the users. In the case of significant changes, the Company will notify users through this service or other relevant channels.

13. Inquiries Regarding Personal Information
The Company will respond to requests from the member for disclosure, deletion, correction, or suspension of use of personal information registered with this service, but only after confirming that the request is made by the member themselves. The Company will follow the prescribed procedures (https://www.sankei-digital.co.jp/priv-disclosure/). For inquiries regarding this service, please contact the Company’s support center below.

Sankei Digital Co., Ltd.
Digital Life Editorial Office
info-digitallife@sankei.co.jp


14. Handling of Complaints
For complaints related to personal information (including objections from requesters regarding the Company’s actions related to disclosure, creation of anonymized information, and other handling of personal information), please contact info-digitallife@sankei.co.jp. The Company will make every effort to address and resolve these complaints appropriately and promptly.

15. Response in the Event of a Data Breach
If a breach of a member’s personal information occurs, the Company will promptly notify the member of the facts and take appropriate actions to address the situation.

Established on August 11, 2021
Revised on June 27, 2023
Revised on April 1, 2025