Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools Policy

Generative AI and AI-Assisted Tools Policy

Ettisal: Journal of Communication is committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity, transparency, and academic ethics. In recognition of the growing role of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in scholarly work, this policy outlines the permitted and prohibited uses of these tools across all stages of the publication workflow. This policy applies strictly to all submitted manuscripts, including original research articles, reviews, and short communications.

Step 1: Author Accountability, Responsible Use, and Disclosure

Authors are fully accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of their manuscripts. While generative AI tools may be used responsibly to assist with language refinement, literature synthesis, or structuring ideas, they can never replace human critical thinking or original scholarly judgment. Authors must independently verify all AI-generated outputs to prevent factual errors, incomplete explanations, or fabricated citations. Confidential, sensitive, or personal data must never be uploaded into unsecure public AI platforms. Under no circumstances can AI tools be listed or cited as an author or co-author, as authorship carries legal and ethical responsibilities that only humans can fulfill. All uses of generative AI in manuscript preparation must be transparently disclosed upon submission through an official AI Usage Statement detailing the tool name, version, and specific purpose, although basic word-processor spelling and grammar checkers are exempt. If AI technology forms an integral part of the research methodology itself, its application must be fully described and reproducible within the Methods section.

Step 2: Visual and Image Integrity Standards

Ettisal strictly prohibits the use of AI-generated or AI-modified images, artwork, or figures in submitted manuscripts. Authors may not use AI tools to insert, remove, or alter visual elements, as maintaining visual authenticity is vital to scholarly integrity. Basic non-manipulative adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance are permitted only if they do not distort or obscure the original informational value of the image. The only exception applies when an AI tool or machine-learning algorithm constitutes the primary research methodology itself, such as in automated image processing or historical document restoration, in which case the tool name, version, parameters, and raw data must be explicitly declared in the Methods section for verification. Decorative AI artwork and AI-generated graphical abstracts are strictly forbidden.

Step 3: Reviewer Confidentiality and Evaluation Integrity

Peer review at Ettisal is strictly confidential and anchored in independent human scholarly assessment. Reviewers are explicitly forbidden from uploading any portion of a submitted manuscript, abstract, figure, or review report into external AI tools under any circumstances. Uploading unpublished materials to AI systems compromises confidentiality, violates author intellectual property rights, and risks exposing proprietary research data. Furthermore, reviewers must not delegate manuscript evaluation, text summarization, or critique generation to AI platforms. All substantive analysis, interpretation, and written feedback must be produced solely by the human reviewer based on their professional expertise. Reviewers are also expected to report any suspected undisclosed AI usage or fabricated references to the editorial office.

Step 4: Editorial Decision-Making and Safeguards

Editors play a central role in maintaining editorial independence and research integrity. Editors must handle all manuscripts confidentially and are strictly prohibited from entering submitted manuscripts, decision letters, or reviewer communications into unsecure external AI systems. Editorial decisions—including initial desk screening, acceptance, revision requests, or rejection—must be made solely by human editors based on academic merit and expert reviewer feedback; automated AI scoring or acceptance decision tools are strictly prohibited. Editors may only utilize journal-approved, secure internal AI tools operating within identity-protected environments for technical workflow tasks, such as plagiarism detection via Turnitin or automated reviewer matching.

Step 5: Misconduct Investigation and Non-Financial Sanctions

Ettisal takes non-disclosure or improper use of generative AI technologies very seriously. If undisclosed or inappropriate AI usage is detected during peer review or after publication, the editorial board will handle the case in strict accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Sanctions for AI-related misconduct are strictly administrative and academic. Confirmed violations will result in immediate manuscript rejection, formal article retraction for published papers, temporary or permanent bans on future submissions from the involved authors, and official notifications sent to the authors' affiliated institutions or funding bodies.