[IRTalk] Inside Paper Mills: Detection, Evidence, and What Editors Should Look For

[Ina Smith]

https://youtu.be/Xq2YRnbljKA?si=JKnfZQJUNAi0LZeQ

In this session hosted by the Asian Council of Science Editors, we explore the growing challenge of paper mills in academic publishing. Facilitated by Adam Day, CEO of Clear Skies, and moderated by ACSE Ambassador Haleama Al Sabbah, this webinar provides practical insights into how these entities operate and how editors can protect research integrity. The discussion covers key red flags to watch for during the submission process and effective methods for gathering evidence. This is an essential resource for editors, reviewers, and research integrity officers looking to safeguard the scholarly record.

The main message of the video is that paper mills are best identified through patterns, not through one sign alone. Editors should look for evidence of fabrication, especially unusual reference lists, suspicious citation patterns, repeated templates, strange author histories and links to already-flagged papers. A second key point is that screening should happen as early as possible, ideally before peer review, so journals can triage suspicious submissions quickly instead of spending large amounts of time on later investigations. The speaker also stresses that AI use on its own is not proof of misconduct. Generative AI can be used legitimately for writing support, but it becomes concerning when combined with fabricated references, irrelevant citations or other suspicious patterns.
Overall, the takeaway is that technology and data analysis can help editors detect organized fraud, but these tools should support, not replace, careful editorial judgement.



Ina Smith

Planning Manager

Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)



Switchboard: +27 12 349 6600

Tel: +27 828180117

Email: ina at assaf.org.za



[cid:74b32b44-bc64-4f62-8458-1ceb521c321a]



Community Manager Africa
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

[cid:38981f63-3e31-4aba-87af-e1a3748658b6]<https://doaj.org/>

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