ACM Publication Integrity Governance

Adopted 10 July 2026

Introduction

The computing community expects ACM Publications to adhere to the highest standards for quality and trustworthiness and for ACM authors to engage in ethical practices while conducting research and reporting on the results of that research in ACM Publications. Upholding this standard requires the work of many individuals, both in the community and in ACM. Due to the quantity and complexity of policy violations that can occur, multiple entities have been defined to share responsibility for ensuring publication integrity.

This Policy defines the roles and responsibilities for the ACM Publications Board, the ACM Ethics & Plagiarism Committee (E&P), SIG Ethics & Plagiarism Committees (SIGx E&P), and the SIG Publication Integrity Board in relation to enforcement of ACM Publications Policies. Broadly speaking, the SIGx E&P Committees will investigate low-level violations found prior to publication, while all other investigations will be handled by E&P.

This Policy also describes the procedures followed by each entity, how results are communicated, stakeholder rights, and additional considerations for the appointment and operation of the entities defined herein.

Roles and responsibilities

The following entities shall define and enforce ACM Publications Policies based on the following designations of responsibility:

Publications Board

• Approves ACM Publications Policies.
• Defines Penalties for Publication Violations.
• Has sole authority to assess Level IV and V penalty determinations, which will be based on review of E&P findings and recommendations.
• Has decisional authority for additional claims that could not be resolved by the Ethics & Plagiarism Committee.

Ethics & Plagiarism Committee (E&P)

• A Standing Committee of the Publications Board.
• Investigates all claims of violations found in ACM published Works and in non-SIG submitted works.
• Investigates claims in SIG submitted Works that could not be resolved by the relevant SIG-level body or for which no such SIG-level body exists.
• Reviews all SIG-level Level III penalties in pre-publication violations for potential escalation of the penalty level or to an ACM-wide ban.
• Defines standards and procedures for evaluating claims of Publications violations for both pre- and post-publication investigations.
• Provides guidance and support material for SIG officers regarding publication integrity, as well as consultation for borderline or difficult pre-publication investigations.
• Makes recommendations for policy changes as appropriate.
• The E&P Chair will be appointed to a renewable 3-year term by the Publications Board Chair, in consultation with the prior E&P Chair and the ACM Director of Publications; the E&P Chair will serve an additional year on E&P in the role of Former Chair when a new Chair is appointed.
• Other members include designated Publications Board members, relevant ACM staff members, and others appointed by the Publications Board Chair in consultation with the E&P Chair.

SIG Ethics & Plagiarism Committee (SIGx E&P)

• Investigates all claims of pre-publication violations within that SIG, including conferences, workshops, and related PACM titles.
• Coordinates efforts to ensure consistent procedures across conferences within that SIG or across multiple years of the same conference.
• Authorized to issue Level I (warning) and Level II (rejection) violations, as well as to impose SIG-specific Level III penalties (one-year SIG-specific publication ban)
  • PC chairs retain editorial discretion to reject papers as appropriate. If the rejection is for suspicion of a policy violation (including plagiarism), these decisions need to be reported to the SIGx E&P for an official finding and reporting; however the chairs do not need to wait on the SIGx E&P decision in order to take action.
  • Nothing in this policy should be read to prevent PC chairs from issuing a desk rejection for other appropriate reasons not related to a policy violation.
• Members of the SIGx E&P should be appointed by the SIG Executive Committee to serve for either 2- or 3-year terms, though the actual term length can be determined by the SIG.
• Each SIGx E&P will have a designated chair appointed to a renewable 2-year term by the SIG General Chair(s), in consultation with the SIG Executive Committee; the SIGx E&P Chair will serve an additional year on the SIGx E&P in the role of Former Chair when a new Chair is appointed.

SIG Publication Integrity Board (PIB)

• Committee of SIGx E&P chairs and ACM E&P Chair.
• Coordinates efforts and best practices between SIGx E&P.
• Can provide assistance for SIG-level investigations of related areas.
• Two SIGx E&P chairs will also serve as liaisons and as ex officio members to ACM E&P.

Additional Guidance for SIGx E&P Committees and Pre-publication Violations

• SIG leadership should try to ensure individuals’ appointments are made to overlap to maintain institutional knowledge.
• The SIG EC should put out a call for new SIGx E&P members on a regular basis (perhaps once per year) and make appointments as appropriate. The SIG EC should also consider asking trustworthy individuals directly as needed.
• The SIGx E&P Chair should be selected from current members of the Committee to ensure the requisite experience of procedures and standards.
• It is encouraged, but not required, for the SIGx E&P Chair to serve as an ex officio member of the SIG EC. The SIG may determine what such a role entails, including attendance at EC meetings and voting rights.
• The SIG EC should be authorized to remove the SIGx E&P Chair with a majority vote.