Opinion: Fake or PhD from a Defunct University? The Puzzling Case of a Politician’s Academic Claims

In the last two days, a prominent politician’s academic credentials—specifically a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree allegedly obtained from Kingsnow University—have come under intense public scrutiny. This revelation has prompted concerned citizens, including myself, to investigate the existence and legitimacy of the institution in question.

On May 30, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM, I conducted an online search to determine whether Kingsnow University was a recognized academic institution. To my surprise, there was no active website or verifiable digital presence for the university at the time. Searches through publicly accessible domain databases such as WHOIS and ICANN returned no records—indicating that the university’s domain name was either never registered or had been deactivated. In fact, the domain was listed as available for registration, suggesting it was not in use.

However, archived versions of the Kingsnow University website I retrieved had information that appeared credible. These archives indicate that the institution previously claimed to offer certificates, academic degrees, and even PhD programs.

The university also stated it had been accredited by two organizations:

Questionable Accrediting Bodies

1. Global Accreditation Board for Distance Education (GABDE)

GABDE is presented by some online institutions as an international accrediting agency promoting quality in distance education. However, it is not recognized by key oversight bodies such as the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

2. International Accreditation Association for Online Schools

This entity has no verifiable digital footprint and is not listed in any recognized directories of legitimate accrediting bodies. There is no credible information confirming its operations or standards, making any claims of accreditation from this body highly questionable.

Website Reactivated with New Disclaimer

At exactly 14:37:19 UTC on May 30, 2025, I observed that the Kingsnow University domain had been re-registered, and a new website had suddenly gone live. Strikingly, the homepage now displays the following disclaimer:

Important Disclaimer Regarding PhD Claims

Kingsnow University wishes to inform the public that our institution does not offer, has never offered, and is not authorized to confer Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in any field of study. Our accredited programs are limited to short courses and professional development programs.

OFFICIAL NOTICE

Any individual claiming to hold a PhD degree from Kingsnow University is making a fraudulent claim. Such misrepresentation constitutes academic fraud and may be subject to legal prosecution under applicable laws governing educational fraud, false representation, and professional misconduct.

This statement is in direct contradiction to the archived website, which clearly advertised PhD and other academic degree programs. The sudden appearance of a disclaimer disavowing any association with PhD programs raises serious questions about the authenticity, timing, and motivation behind the newly posted notice.

Evidence of Digital Manipulation?

The abrupt reactivation of the domain, combined with a disclaimer that appears tailored to discredit a specific individual, strongly suggests that the website may have been hastily created or manipulated to potentially discredit the politician at the centre of the controversy.

Recommendations for Action

Given these troubling developments, I respectfully call for the following measures:

1. A full investigation into the registration history, DNS changes, and current ownership of the Kingsnow University domain (e.g., kingsnowuniversity.com), including any changes to its hosting infrastructure.
2. Temporary suspension or takedown of the website to prevent further misinformation while investigations are ongoing.
3. Referral to cybersecurity, educational, and law enforcement authorities—nationally and internationally—to determine if any civil or criminal laws have been breached.
4. Public release of investigation findings, to promote transparency and accountability, and to deter similar attempts at institutional or reputational manipulation in the future.