Gen AI Policy

EcceS Journal Policy on the Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies

Rapid developments in generative AI have encouraged EcceS: Economics, Social, and Development Studies to establish clear guidelines to ensure transparency, integrity, and responsible practice across authors, reviewers, editors, and the wider research community. These policies will continue to be reviewed and updated as technology evolves.

For Authors

Use of AI Tools in Manuscript Preparation – Overview

EcceS acknowledges that generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI Tools”) can support researchers in tasks such as summarizing literature, exploring ideas, organizing content, and improving clarity. When used responsibly and under human supervision, these tools may enhance the writing process.

However, AI Tools must never replace the author’s own intellectual contribution, judgement, and critical evaluation. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submitted work.

Authors are accountable for:

  • Verifying all AI-generated content for correctness, completeness, and impartiality, including checking all references that may be inaccurate or fabricated.
  • Ensuring that the manuscript reflects the author’s own analysis, interpretation, and scholarly contribution.
  • Clearly disclosing any use of AI Tools in a dedicated AI statement at submission.
  • Safeguarding data privacy, intellectual property, and sensitive information by reviewing the terms of any AI Tools used.

Responsible Use of AI Tools

Authors must ensure that the AI Tools they use protect the confidentiality of their data. Unpublished manuscripts, personal data, proprietary materials, copyrighted images, real individuals’ likenesses, or identifiable brands must not be uploaded to any AI system unless its terms explicitly allow such use.

AI Tools must not be granted rights over the authors’ materials beyond what is necessary to provide the service. Tools that restrict the author’s right to publish resulting work should be avoided. All outputs must be reviewed for bias, factual errors, or misleading interpretations.

Disclosure

Use of AI Tools must be disclosed in an AI Declaration Statement, specifying the tool used, its purpose, and how the author supervised the output. Standard grammar and spelling checks do not require disclosure.

AI use within the research methodology, such as for data processing or text mining, must be fully described in the Methods section.

Authorship

AI Tools cannot be listed or cited as authors. Authorship requires responsibilities that only humans can fulfil, including approval of the final manuscript, responsibility for its content, and accountability for its integrity.

Figures, Images, and Artwork

EcceS does not permit the use of generative AI tools to create, modify, or manipulate images or figures in submissions. Acceptable adjustments include minor changes to brightness or contrast that do not alter the underlying information.

If AI-assisted imaging is part of the research method, it must be described transparently in the Methods section, including tool name, version, and relevant technical details. Authors may be required to provide original, unedited images.

Generative AI may not be used for graphical abstracts or artwork unless prior permission is obtained from the editorial team and all rights are cleared.

For Reviewers

Use of AI During Peer Review

Manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, extracts, or peer review reports into any AI Tool, as this may compromise confidentiality, privacy, and intellectual property.

Peer review requires human critical judgement; therefore, generative AI must not be used to evaluate scientific content or to draft or refine review comments. Reviewers are fully responsible for the accuracy and fairness of their reports.

If authors disclose AI use in their submission, this information will appear before the references section for reviewer awareness.

EcceS may use internal AI-assisted systems, fully compliant with responsible AI principles, for plagiarism checks, reviewer suggestions, and workflow support. These systems protect author confidentiality and comply with data privacy standards.

For Editors

Use of AI in the Editorial Process

Editors must treat all manuscripts and correspondence as confidential. Manuscripts, decision letters, or any related communication must not be uploaded into generative AI tools under any circumstances.

Editorial decisions must rely entirely on human expertise. AI Tools must not be used to evaluate manuscript quality, interpret findings, or guide acceptance decisions, as they may introduce errors or bias.

Editors may consult the authors’ AI disclosure statements included before the reference list. If an editor suspects inappropriate use of AI by authors or reviewers, they should report the concern to the publisher.

EcceS may employ internal, privacy-protected AI-assisted technologies for screening, integrity checks, and workflow support. These tools comply with data security and responsible AI standards.