Elsevier Expands Crackdown on Citation Manipulation Cartels (chrisbrunet.com)

• Third editor dismissed for involvement in organized citation fraud
• Targeting systematic manipulation of impact factor metrics
• Implementing systemic safeguards against peer-review corruption

"Elsevier has terminated a third journal editor as part of a strategic initiative to dismantle organized 'citation cartels' within the academic publishing sector. These groups systematically exploit review processes to artificially inflate impact factors, undermining the objective metrics used to assess scientific quality. By targeting the gatekeepers of peer review, the publisher is attempting to reclaim the integrity of scientific output, a critical component of the European knowledge ecosystem. The move signals a broader transition toward rigorous oversight in response to systemic risks posed by bad actors in the global scholarly communication market."