Generative AI Policy

The Afro-Asian Journal of Law and Governance (AAJLG) recognises that generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly being used in academic research, legal scholarship, writing, data analysis, editing, translation, and scholarly publishing. AAJLG permits the responsible, ethical, and transparent use of generative AI while maintaining strict standards of academic integrity, originality, human accountability, research ethics, legal accuracy, and scholarly independence.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, editorial board members, and other contributors involved in the publication process of the Journal.

PURPOSE OF THE POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to:

Promote the responsible and ethical use of generative AI in scholarly publishing;

Protect academic integrity, originality, and intellectual property;

Ensure that authors remain fully accountable for their submitted work;

Prevent fabricated, inaccurate, misleading, or unverifiable scholarly content;

Promote transparency regarding substantive use of generative AI;

Protect confidential manuscripts, unpublished research, personal information, and research data;

Safeguard the independence and integrity of the peer-review process; and

Establish clear expectations for authors, reviewers, editors, and other contributors.

DEFINITION OF GENERATIVE AI

For the purposes of this policy, generative AI refers to artificial-intelligence systems capable of generating, modifying, analysing, or substantially transforming content. Such content may include:

Text;

Images;

Computer code;

Audio;

Video;

Data or synthetic data;

Summaries;

Translations; and

Other forms of digital or scholarly material.

Examples include large language models, AI writing assistants, AI coding tools, AI image-generation systems, automated translation systems, and other generative AI technologies.

PERMITTED USES OF GENERATIVE AI

Authors may use generative AI tools for appropriate supporting and editorial purposes, including:

Correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation;

Improving language, clarity, and readability;

Translation of scholarly material;

Formatting and reference-management assistance;

Brainstorming research questions or possible areas of inquiry;

Developing preliminary research outlines;

Organising ideas and research materials; and

Assisting with other limited editorial or technical functions that do not replace the author's scholarly judgment.

The use of generative AI must not compromise the originality, accuracy, reliability, legal reasoning, or scholarly integrity of a manuscript.

Generative AI systems cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to AAJLG. Authorship shall be limited to individuals who satisfy the Journal's applicable authorship requirements and who can accept responsibility for the content of the work.

AUTHOR RESPONSIBILITY

Regardless of whether generative AI has been used, human authors remain fully responsible for the content and integrity of their manuscripts, including:

The accuracy and reliability of the manuscript;

The originality of the work;

Research design and methodology;

Research data and sources;

Legal analysis and interpretation;

Interpretation of research findings;

Citations, references, and quotations;

Identification and verification of relevant legal authorities;

Conclusions and recommendations; and

Compliance with applicable ethical and publication requirements.

Authors must carefully verify all information generated or assisted by AI, particularly legal authorities, legislation, judicial decisions, case citations, academic sources, quotations, statistics, and references. AI-generated content must not be relied upon without appropriate human verification.

The use of generative AI does not reduce, transfer, or replace the author's responsibility for the accuracy, originality, legality, and scholarly integrity of the submitted manuscript.