Fraudulent Publishing in Mathematics: A European Call to Action and How Information Infrastructure Can Help

TL;DR

This paper discusses the issue of fraudulent publishing in mathematics, emphasizing Europe's potential leadership in combating it through policy, infrastructure, and community efforts, including the use of digital tools and quality signals.

Contribution

It highlights Europe's readiness to lead a structural response to fraudulent publishing by leveraging existing policies, infrastructures, and community-led open access initiatives.

Findings

Fraudulent publishing erodes trust in mathematical research.

Europe has developed policies and infrastructures to address this issue.

Digital tools like formal proofs and zbMATH Open can help identify reputable venues.

Abstract

The IMU-ICIAM working group's new report on Fraudulent Publishing in the Mathematical Sciences documents how gaming of bibliometrics, predatory outlets and paper-mill activity are eroding trust in research, mathematics included. This short EMS note brings that analysis home to Europe. We urge readers to recognise the warning signs of fraudulent publishing, to report serious irregularities so that they can be investigated and sanctioned, and to reflect critically on their own editorial and reviewing practices. We then sketch why Europe is well placed to lead a structural response: a decade of policy development on open science; mature infrastructures for data, software and scholarly communication; and new capacity for community-led diamond open access. Finally, we outline developments towards non-print contributions across member countries including the growth of formal proofs (e.g. with Lean and Isabelle) and we highlight the role of zbMATH Open as a European quality signal that can help editors, reviewers and authors steer clear of problematic venues.