Privacy Policy
Last updated: 14 November 2026
1. Introduction and scope
This Privacy Policy explains how personal information may be collected and processed when you visit https://gabrielmkennedy.com (the “Website”), send an academic enquiry, subscribe to updates, or follow links to external services. The Website presents the academic work and professional activities of Gabriel M. Kennedy. This statement concerns the Website and does not constitute a privacy notice issued by the University of Liberia.
2. Website operator and privacy contact
The Website is operated by Gabriel M. Kennedy in connection with his independent academic and professional online presence. Questions about this policy, or requests concerning personal information provided through the Website, may be sent to kennedygm@ul.edu.lr.
3. Information collected directly from visitors
If you use the Contact form, you are asked for your name, email address, and message. Please avoid including confidential or sensitive personal information unless necessary for your enquiry. If you subscribe to updates, the subscription service processes your email address and information necessary to administer the subscription. Correspondence sent directly by email may also contain information you choose to provide.
4. Technical and usage information
The Website is hosted using WordPress.com and uses features provided by WordPress.com and Jetpack. As part of delivering the Website, maintaining security, preventing abuse, and providing usage statistics, those services may process technical data such as IP address, browser or device information, requested pages, referring pages, approximate location derived from network data, and access times. The precise categories collected depend on the services enabled and how you interact with them. Website operators generally see aggregated Jetpack Stats rather than individual visitor identities.
5. Purposes and applicable privacy principles
Information submitted through the Contact form or by email is used to read and respond to enquiries, consider proposed academic collaborations, and maintain related professional correspondence. Subscription information is used to administer requested updates and deliver publication notifications. Technical information may be processed to operate, secure, and understand use of the Website. These activities should follow principles of transparency, data minimization, confidentiality, accountability, and appropriate security, subject to applicable law. Where a particular processing activity requires consent or another legal justification, the Website operator will seek to meet the relevant requirements. Visitors can stop optional email subscriptions using the unsubscribe facility.
6. Contact form submissions
The Contact form requests a visitor’s name, email address and message. A test confirmed that responses are stored in the WordPress.com Forms dashboard and are also delivered by email to the Website operator. Form services may process associated technical information for delivery, abuse prevention and security. Submissions are used to address the enquiry and are not intended for unrelated marketing. Deleting a response in WordPress.com does not necessarily remove a separate copy held in the email account.
7. Email subscriptions
Visitors may voluntarily subscribe to future Insights & Perspectives updates through the Jetpack subscription feature. Jetpack/WordPress.com processes subscription email addresses and certain technical information needed to provide the service and prevent abuse. Subscription messages provide options to manage or unsubscribe from notifications. A visitor may stop receiving updates by using the unsubscribe link supplied with an email or by contacting the Website operator.
8. Cookies and similar technologies
WordPress.com and Jetpack use cookies and related technical mechanisms for website operation and security, and may use such mechanisms for other services depending on settings and visitor interactions. During a limited test in a private browser session, a cookie named _hcc appeared for the Website; its specific provider, purpose and duration have not yet been independently established. The Website also makes requests to WordPress.com measurement infrastructure, which may operate without depositing an analytics cookie in a particular browser session. This test is not an exhaustive inventory of all cookies, browser storage or third-party requests. Applicable requirements for notices or prior consent depend on the technologies used and the law governing the particular processing. Additional information about Automattic’s cookies appears in its privacy materials linked below.
9. Website statistics
The Website uses Jetpack Stats to understand visits and the use of its pages. During a browser test, requests to pixel.wp.com were observed, including GIF-based measurement requests. Jetpack/Automattic may process technical information associated with visits and interactions to produce statistics, while the Website operator generally accesses aggregate reporting. A browser test cannot by itself establish all data categories, retention periods, consent requirements or downstream processing. These matters are subject to the provider’s documented practices and any applicable law.
10. External links and embedded resources
The Website provides links to scholarly and professional services, including ORCID, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Scopus, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Following an external link takes you to a third-party service subject to its own privacy notices and practices. Some displayed images, profile icons, or other externally sourced elements may cause your browser to contact third-party servers when the page loads. The Website operator does not control the privacy practices of those independent services.
11. Sharing and service providers
Personal information may be processed by service providers involved in hosting, form delivery and storage, subscriptions, email delivery, statistics, or website security, including WordPress.com/Jetpack services operated by Automattic. Information may also be disclosed where necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful requests, or protect legitimate rights. This policy does not describe the Website as selling contact-form submissions or subscription addresses to advertisers.
12. Storage, retention, and security
Contact messages are stored in the WordPress.com Forms dashboard and delivered to the Website operator’s email account; copies may therefore exist in more than one location. The Website operator intends to review stored enquiries at least annually and ordinarily delete routine enquiries within 12 months after the last relevant exchange, unless they remain needed for a legitimate professional purpose or an applicable obligation. Relevant collaboration correspondence may be kept while the collaboration continues and for as long afterward as reasonably necessary. Deletion is a manual administrative process, not an automatic WordPress.com deletion schedule, and separate copies in WordPress Forms and email must be reviewed. Subscription records are managed through the relevant WordPress.com/Jetpack service, and visitors may unsubscribe. Technical records are subject to the practices and retention schedules of the relevant service providers. Appropriate account access controls and provider security measures help protect stored information, although no electronic system can be guaranteed completely secure. Requests concerning information provided directly to the Website may be sent to the privacy contact above.
13. International processing
Because the Website can be accessed internationally and uses third-party infrastructure, some information may be processed or stored in countries other than the visitor’s country of residence. Where applicable data protection law restricts cross-border transfers, the responsible parties must assess and apply an appropriate transfer mechanism or safeguard. Further details about Automattic’s handling of international personal data are available in its privacy materials.
14. Your privacy rights
Visitors may contact the Website operator to ask what personal information they have provided through this Website, to request correction or deletion where appropriate, or to raise concerns about its handling. Whether a particular request must be fulfilled, and any applicable exceptions, depend on the relevant law and circumstances. Where legally applicable, additional rights may include access, objection, restriction, portability, withdrawal of consent, or a complaint to a competent authority. Send requests to kennedygm@ul.edu.lr. Information held independently by an external platform may need to be addressed directly with that provider.
15. Children’s privacy
The Website is intended as a professional academic resource and does not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children. If a parent or guardian believes a child has provided personal information through the Website, they may contact the Website operator to request review and appropriate action.
16. Policy changes
This policy may be revised to reflect changes in website features, service providers, processing practices, or applicable legal requirements. The date at the top of the page will be updated when a revised version is published.
17. Further information
For information about the underlying WordPress.com and Jetpack services, see Automattic’s Privacy Policy, Jetpack’s Privacy Center, and Jetpack’s privacy policy guidance.
