La amenaza velada al acceso abierto diamante: cuando los indicadores se convierten en armas de exclusión

Abstract

This article presents a critical analysis of the recent methodological change implemented by the SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), which has begun estimating article processing charges (APCs) even for journals operating under the diamond open access model. This practice, which links citation metrics to presumed editorial quality, reinforces an elitist and market-driven evaluation system, threatening the sustainability of collaborative and non-commercial models of scholarly communication, particularly in the Global South. Based on a review of recent studies and international declarations, the authors denounce the dangers of indicator commodification and propose urgent actions to safeguard the integrity of the diamond model. These include the explicit visibility of journals without APCs, the strengthening of public infrastructures, and the adoption of fairer metrics that better reflect the social value of science. The article concludes that equating scientific quality with the ability to pay perpetuates structural inequalities that are incompatible with the principles of open science.