Identity Theft in AI Conference Peer Review

Melisa Bok

Abstract:

We discuss newly uncovered cases of identity theft in the scientific
peer-review process within artificial intelligence (AI) research, with broader implications
for other academic procedures. We detail how dishonest researchers exploit the
peer-review system by creating fraudulent reviewer profiles to manipulate paper
evaluations, leveraging weaknesses in reviewer recruitment workflows and identity
verification processes. The findings highlight the critical need for stronger safeguards
against identity theft in peer review and academia at large, and to this end, we also
propose mitigating strategies.