Generative AI Policy

Lentera Masyarakat Hukum recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other AI-assisted technologies can support authors, reviewers, and editors in certain aspects of scholarly communication. However, the use of such technologies must not compromise academic integrity, research ethics, originality, confidentiality, or human accountability.

The journal therefore permits the responsible use of generative AI and AI-assisted technologies, subject to the principles and requirements set out below.

1. Use of Generative AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI or AI-assisted tools to support limited aspects of manuscript preparation, such as:

  • language improvement and grammar correction;

  • translation;

  • improvement of clarity, readability, or academic style;

  • assistance with formatting or organization; and

  • other administrative or editorial tasks that do not replace the author's intellectual contribution.

The use of AI must remain under the meaningful and continuous supervision of the authors. Authors remain fully responsible for the content, arguments, analysis, data, citations, interpretations, and conclusions presented in their manuscript.

Generative AI must not be used as a substitute for the authors' scholarly judgment, critical analysis, or substantive intellectual contribution.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such tools have been used in the preparation of a manuscript in a manner that goes beyond basic spelling, grammar, or formatting assistance.

The disclosure should identify:

  • the AI tool or system used;

  • the purpose for which it was used; and

  • the relevant part or stage of manuscript preparation in which it was used.

The disclosure may be included in an Acknowledgment, Declaration, or dedicated AI-use statement, as appropriate.

For example:

Generative AI Disclosure: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used [name of AI tool] for [brief description of purpose]. The authors reviewed, verified, and take full responsibility for all content of the manuscript.

Routine use of standard spelling, grammar, reference-management, or similar tools that does not generate substantive content generally does not require disclosure.

3. Prohibited Uses

Authors must not use generative AI to:

  • fabricate or falsify research data, findings, citations, legal authorities, cases, regulations, or references;

  • generate substantive scholarly content and present it as entirely the authors' own intellectual work without appropriate disclosure;

  • manipulate or misrepresent research results;

  • create false quotations or sources;

  • conceal the use of AI where disclosure is required;

  • infringe copyright, privacy, confidentiality, or other legal rights; or

  • otherwise circumvent the journal's standards of academic and publication integrity.

Authors are responsible for independently verifying all AI-assisted content, particularly legal authorities, case law, legislation, empirical claims, quotations, citations, and references, as generative AI systems may produce inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, or fabricated information.

4. AI and Authorship

Generative AI tools, AI systems, or other non-human technologies cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of manuscripts submitted to Lentera Masyarakat Hukum.

Authorship requires accountability for the work, the ability to approve the final manuscript, and responsibility for addressing questions concerning its accuracy and integrity. Such responsibilities cannot be assigned to an AI system.

Any substantive intellectual contribution claimed in a manuscript must be attributable to the human authors.

5. Confidentiality and Sensitive Information

Authors, reviewers, and editors must not upload or disclose confidential, unpublished, personally identifiable, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information obtained through the journal's editorial or peer review processes to generative AI systems unless they have explicit authorization and appropriate safeguards are in place.

In particular, reviewers must not submit manuscripts, reviewer reports, unpublished research, or other confidential materials to generative AI tools for the purpose of generating or assisting with a peer review.

6. Generative AI in Peer Review

Reviewers may use AI-assisted technologies only where such use is consistent with the journal's confidentiality and ethical requirements.

Reviewers remain personally responsible for the substance and recommendations contained in their review reports. AI systems must not replace the reviewer's independent scholarly judgment.

Reviewers must not use generative AI to make autonomous decisions concerning the acceptance, revision, or rejection of a manuscript.

7. Generative AI in Editorial Decision-Making

Editors may use appropriate AI-assisted technologies for limited administrative or technical purposes, provided that such use does not compromise manuscript confidentiality, reviewer anonymity, or editorial independence.

Editorial decisions must remain under human editorial responsibility. Generative AI must not independently determine whether a manuscript should be accepted, revised, or rejected.

8. AI-Generated Images, Data, and Other Content

The use of generative AI to create images, figures, datasets, transcripts, simulations, or other research materials must be transparently disclosed where relevant and must comply with applicable ethical, legal, and scholarly standards.

AI-generated or AI-manipulated material must not be presented as authentic empirical evidence or original research data when it is not.

Where AI-generated material forms a substantive part of the research methodology or research output, authors must clearly explain its use, limitations, and verification procedures.

9. Verification and Human Responsibility

The use of generative AI does not reduce or transfer the author's responsibility for the manuscript.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all AI-assisted material is:

  • accurate;

  • appropriately sourced;

  • legally and academically sound;

  • free from fabricated information;

  • consistent with the research evidence;

  • properly attributed; and

  • compliant with applicable ethical and publication standards.

The journal may request clarification regarding the use of AI where concerns arise about the originality, accuracy, integrity, or authorship of a manuscript.

10. Editorial Action

Failure to disclose material use of generative AI, fabrication of content using AI, misuse of confidential information, or other AI-related violations of publication ethics may constitute research or publication misconduct.

Where concerns arise, the journal may investigate the matter in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Malpractice Policy. Depending on the circumstances, editorial action may include requesting clarification or correction, rejecting a manuscript, issuing a correction or expression of concern, or retracting a published article.

11. Policy Updates

As generative AI technologies and standards of scholarly publishing continue to evolve, Lentera Masyarakat Hukum may periodically update this policy to reflect emerging ethical standards, technological developments, and recognized best practices in academic publishing.

The fundamental principle remains that AI may assist scholarly work, but responsibility, accountability, and intellectual authorship remain with human researchers, authors, reviewers, and editors.