Public Apology Regarding the Case Study on James Scott Brown
Public Apology Regarding the Case Study on James Scott Brown
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We would like to issue a formal apology to James Scott Brown regarding the case study previously published on this page.
The case study was created purely for analytical purposes within the context of digital reputation management. It was never intended to cause harm, discomfort, or reputational damage to James Scott Brown in any way.
Recently, the team of James Scott Brown informed us that they discovered the case study through ChatGPT, which surfaced our webpage among key search terms associated with his name. Because of this, James Scott Brown believed that the way the case study was presented was defamatory toward him, and we take his concerns very seriously.
Out of respect for his perspective, and in the spirit of transparency and good faith, we extend our sincere apology for any negative impression, distress, or confusion the publication may have caused. Our objective has always been to present information responsibly, accurately, and without malice.
We value the opportunity to clarify the purpose of the case study and reaffirm that our work aims to educate readers about digital reputation challenges—not to discredit any individual.
Summary of the Previous Blog Post on This URL (Case Study Overview)
Summary of the Previous Blog Post on This URL (Case Study Overview)
The original case study examined the digital reputation challenges connected to James Scott Brown, particularly how certain negative search results and media reports influenced his online presence.
Key points included:
Purpose of the Case Study:
To illustrate typical Online Reputation Management (ORM) challenges by analyzing how unfavorable Google search results can impact an individual’s digital footprint.Background Context:
James Scott Brown was described as an author and cybersecurity figure associated with organizations such as ICIT and CCIOS, with numerous publications attributed to him.Referenced Allegations:
The case study summarized information previously reported by external media outlets (such as BuzzFeed), including claims regarding fabricated social media accounts. These references were included only to explain the pre-existing digital landscape—not generated or endorsed by us.Impact on Online Reputation:
The blog highlighted how past controversies, once publicly documented, can continue to influence search visibility years later and require structured reputation repair efforts.Objective of the Case Study:
The intention was to demonstrate how ORM professionals analyze and address online narratives using publicly available information. It was not created to judge, criticize, or make new allegations against James Scott Brown.Clarification of Intent:
The post aimed to offer insight into how digital narratives persist and how they can be managed. It did not aim to portray James Scott Brown negatively or to question his present work, activities, or character.
Below is the original case study that was previously published at this URL before it was taken down and replaced with the Apology Letter. At the request of James Scott, and in accordance with his instructions to republish a corrected version, we are providing this updated copy to address his concerns.
JAMES SCOTT ICIT: WHO IS JAMES SCOTT, a cybercon, an author, a cybersecurity expert, why was scott exposed in buzzfeed
JAMES SCOTT ICIT: WHO IS JAMES SCOTT, a cybercon, an author, a cybersecurity expert, why was scott exposed in buzzfeed
Roughly three months ago, I received a job invitation on LinkedIn, reaching out for support in online reputation repair. As the connection progressed, the individual extending the invitation introduced me to his client. Almost a month later, this client, named James Scott, visited the Philippines, affording me the opportunity to meet him in person and delve into the unfolding narrative of our future collaboration. The objective of our collaboration is to eliminate the bad reputation/negative associations linked to the name James Scott in Google searches for terms such as "James Scott ICIT," "James Scott Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology," and other relevant keywords.
James introduced himself as an author, emphasizing his dual roles as a cybersecurity expert and an advisor to politicians, spanning not only the US but also other countries, including the Philippines. He pointed out that, unfortunately, these engagements have made him a target of defamation. Of particular significance is his current involvement in philanthropic endeavors, adding urgency to his desire to restore his tarnished reputation.
As an online reputation professional, my first task is to scrutinize a client's online presence, and indeed, I uncovered three heavily researched stories associated with James Scott, and two of them are ranking on first page of Google search results page.
The BuzzFeed News stories delve into the dubious practices of James Scott, a key figure at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT). Scott, whose real name is James Scott Brown, is revealed to have a history of creating false identities, credentials, and online content to boost his reputation.
NOTE: The above statement is based on information from the story also linked above (source: BuzzFeed News). We have also obtained Mr. James Scott’s side, and he maintains that the claims made against him are unsubstantiated and were drawn solely from reports by journalists he considers discredited. At this time, we have not yet contacted the BuzzFeed team to independently verify the details presented in their report.
The article uncovers that James Scott, ICIT's senior fellow, orchestrated a deceptive information operation involving at least 45 fake Twitter accounts and fabricated YouTube profiles to amplify his influence and promote ICIT's events. The story highlighted its investigative research about Scott's questionable background in information security, self-published books from 2013, and past involvement in spammy social media engagement services. Despite initial denial via Buzzfeed interview, Scott eventually admitted to the operation of the fake social media accounts but attributed it to external factors. The story raises serious concerns about the credibility of James Scott and the due diligence performed by influential organizations seeking advice on cybersecurity.
NOTE: To clarify, the admission didn’t come directly from James Scott, but rather via a written statement issued by the ICIT to BuzzFeed News, as noted in the story https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/icit-james-scott-think-tank-fake-twitter-youtube.
We received Mr. James Scott’s response, in which he asserted that he has never admitted to running fake social media accounts. Mr. James Scott has gone on record that the fake accounts may have been created by opposing parties who wish to discredit him or the fake accounts were made by trolls from the far-left/far-right of the political spectrum.
But who is James Scott, truly? Apart from the social media accounts highlighted in Buzzfeed that posted memes featuring James, I also came across interviews showcasing him, such as the one in Forbes magazine.
The fake social media accounts detailed in Buzzfeed are currently untraceable, with only three surviving accounts – one on Pinterest and two on Flickr under the accounts Glass Lamp and Mind Hackerz.
Below are the bio you are going to find about James Scott:
James Scott, Senior fellow and Co-Founder, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) & Center for Cyber Influence Operations Studies (CCIOS)
#hacking #Hackers #hacked #MindHackerz #TechTongue #technology #cybersecurity #infosec #security #CCIOS #ICIT #JamesScott #Cyberculture #cyberart #digitalar #inspiration
What adds a humorous twist to the tags on some of James Scott's Pinterest photos (as you can see on below screenshots) is their complete irrelevance to both the image and James himself. Tags like "Can dogs eat strawberry," "Peach wedding flowers," and "Russian Singles" are among the unexpected and unrelated elements.
Note: As of this update, we do not know who owns the Pinterest photos that contain these unrelated tags. If mentioning this information causes any concern for Mr. Scott, we sincerely apologize; we simply referenced what was publicly available on Pinterest.
In my quest for additional biographical information about James Scott, I came across two profiles, one on Cybercon and the other on Amazon.
On Cybercon, you can find James Scott's speaker biography presented as follows:
James Scott is a Senior Fellow and co-founder of the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, Senior fellow at Center for Cyber Influence Operations Studies and the author of more than 40 books with 9 best sellers on the topic of health it, internet of things, energy sector cybersecurity, nation-state cyber espionage and more. He advises to more than 25 congressional offices and committees as well as several federal agencies on cyberwarfare and cybersecurity. Mr. Scott’s work gains regular coverage in domestic and international publications such as the LA Times, Wired, New York Times, Motherboard, Newsweek, Christian Science Monitor, Fox News, and PBS News Hour, and his work was referenced by media, academia, and industry more than 3000 times in 2016 alone.
While on Amazon, below is James Scott 's About the Author:
James Scott is an advisor, "7 Time Best Selling Author" and lecturer on the topics of Cybersecurity and organizational strategy. Mr. Scott has authored multiple books such as: The CEO's Manual on Cyber Security, a five part series entitled "Cybersecurity Hygiene for the Healthcare Industry: The basics in Healthcare IT, Health Informatics and Cybersecurity for the Health Sector", and a two volume series entitled "The Book on Healthcare IT" among others. His work and advisory are regularly sourced by federal agencies, the legislative community and governments abroad.
In the upcoming update of this case study, expect more that I uncovered about James Scott.
NOTE: In the upcoming update of this case study, you may expect additional information we have gathered regarding Mr. James Scott. We have also reached out to Mr. Scott to request details about any philanthropic work he has undertaken in the Philippines—such as the Tondo program he previously mentioned—so that we can accurately present and highlight these efforts. At this time, we have not found any publicly available information about these initiatives online, and we hope he can provide verified details for inclusion in the updated report.
The information referenced in this case study originates exclusively from third-party, unverified, publicly accessible sources, except for statements explicitly provided by James Scott through his Legal Team.
We do not claim, imply, or verify the accuracy, truthfulness, or completeness of any allegations or statements made by external parties regarding James Scott Brown. We are not affiliated with James Scott Brown in any capacity. This material is provided solely as an analytical example of online reputation management practices and should not be interpreted as an assertion or implication of wrongdoing.
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