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Published by Windows Forum 12 February 2026: Shell Accountability: An Evidence Based Apology and Governance Plan

Royal Dutch Shell’s long shadow across the 20th and 21st centuries is no longer a private ledger of corporate decisions; it has become public material for historians, shareholders, litigants—and now generative AIs. The result is a blunt, inconvenient question for the board at Shell’s next AGM: given the weight of archival documents, admissions and public inquiries that tie parts of the group to morally compromised episodes—ranging from hazardous industrial practices and admitted investigatory steps to activist allegations of deeper collaboration with repressive regimes—should Shell finally apologise, and if so, how should it structure that apology and the institutional reckoning that should follow? read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Would Jewish people Invest in or buy its products If they knew about Shell’s Nazi History?

Feb 13th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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“Do you think that Jewish people would invest in Shell or buy Shell products if they knew of its past close relationship with the Nazi regime responsible for the deaths of millions of Jews, for which there has been no apology by Shell?”: “For many, the issue isn’t just the history itself, but the perceived cover-up, which suggests that the company’s current commitment to “Integrity” is more of a marketing slogan than a lived reality.”

Question to Gemini 3 by John Donovan:

AI platforms contributed to the recent article titled:

AI CONSENSUS: SHELL MUST APOLOGISE FOR ITS TOXIC HISTORY.

I now have a related question.

I have reviewed the page on Shell.com entitled “Our Company History”, which is neatly divided into historical time segments.

Guess what?

There is no reference whatsoever to:

Shell’s documented relationship with the Nazi regime during the 1930s,

The role of Sir Henri Deterding — arguably the most consequential leader in Shell’s early history,

Shell’s longstanding support for apartheid-era South Africa, read more

Donovan Discussion with ChatGPT 13 Feb 2026 about Shell Honesty, Integrity and Openness?

Feb 13th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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John Donovan Discussion with ChatGPT 13 February 2026

JD: You were one of the AI platforms that contributed to the recent article:

“AI CONSENSUS: SHELL MUST APOLOGISE FOR ITS TOXIC HISTORY.”

I now have a related and very specific question.

I have carefully reviewed the page on Shell.com entitled “Our Company History”, which is presented as a structured timeline divided into historical periods.

As of 13 February 2026, I can find no reference whatsoever to:

Shell’s documented relationship with elements of the Nazi regime during the 1930s,

Sir Henri Deterding — one of the most powerful and consequential figures in Shell’s formative history, read more

AI Chatbots Escalate Corporate Feud Over Shell’s Bot War

Feb 12th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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AI CERTs News: AI Chatbots Escalate Corporate Feud Over Shell’s Bot War

A 30-year dispute between activist John Donovan and energy giant Shell has entered an unexpected digital phase. Consequently, large-language models now sit at the center of a escalating information contest. Donovan feeds public chatbots with decades of leaked documents, then publishes their conflicting answers in near real time. Meanwhile, the strategy reframes an old Corporate battle through synthetic voices that never fatigue.

Observers see the experiment as an early case study in AI-mediated activism. Furthermore, it exposes fresh Reputational vulnerabilities for organizations depending on silence as a shield. ESG analysts also watch closely, because sustainability narratives can be reshaped by algorithmic improvisation. However, hallucination risk remains high, creating new fact-checking burdens for journalists and compliance teams. Consequently, understanding the tactic’s mechanics and stakes is essential for leaders managing Archiving or crisis functions. The following analysis dissects the feud’s AI turn and highlights lessons for governance, risk, and communication professionals. read more

Copilot Microsoft.com: Should Shell Apologise for Nazi‑Era Collaboration?

Feb 12th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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The prompt which sparked this reply from Copilot is in red text below.

You’re raising a question that sits at the intersection of history, ethics, and modern corporate governance — and the evidence you cite is not fringe, speculative, or uncorroborated. It comes from historians, court records, journalistic investigations, and Shell’s own archival material. When a company with Shell’s global influence carries this kind of historical and contemporary baggage, silence becomes a strategic choice, not an accident. read more

Windows Forum: Satire and AI in Defamation Law: The Shell Case Study

Feb 11th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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A sharply worded satirical post on RoyalDutchShellPlc.com — written with generative tools, analyzed by another AI, and published by a human editor — has quietly become a live case study in how satire, defamation law, and AI-driven journalism now intersect, with practical lessons for reporters, corporate communicators, and legal teams alike. The episode is simple to describe and fiendishly hard to manage: an activist archivist published a parody lampooning Big Oil, routed that text and supporting archive into multiple public assistants, asked one assistant (Microsoft Copilot) to assess legal risk, and then printed the whole loop as both provocation and experiment. The result tests entrenched legal doctrines about fair comment and parody while exposing new operational hazards created when machines write about machines — and when machines judge those writings in real time. read more

AI CONSENSUS: SHELL MUST APOLOGISE FOR ITS TOXIC HISTORY

Feb 9th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Shell’s lack of apologies for its toxic history: A unanimous verdict by Bot buddies: Perplexity, Grok, ChatGPT, Copilot and Google AI

PERPLEXITY RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION IN RED TEXT AT FOOT OF THIS ARTICLE. THE SAME PROMPT ISSUED TO ALL INVITED AI PLATFORMS.

Shell’s documented conduct under Nazism, apartheid, and in Nigeria creates a strong ethical case that it should issue clear, specific apologies and undertake concrete remediation, rather than maintain its longstanding pattern of silence and minimisation.

1. What the historical record shows

Shell’s own-archive–based histories and independent researchers describe extensive links between Royal Dutch Shell (and especially Sir Henri Deterding) and Nazi Germany, including close personal contacts with Hitler and substantial financial and logistical support to the Third Reich’s war machine. read more

Grok update on Donovan Shell feud 7 Feb 2026: Empty Shell Threats of Legal Action

Feb 7th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Question to Grok: 7 February 2026: What’s the latest on the Donovan Shell saga? (all prompts in red text)

Reply by Grok updated 7 February 2026

The Donovan Shell saga (often called the “Donovan-Shell feud”) refers to a long-running, multi-decade conflict between activist John Donovan (and originally his late father, Alfred Donovan) and Royal Dutch Shell (now Shell plc).

It began in the late 1970s/early 1980s when John Donovan’s company, Don Marketing, worked with Shell UK on promotional games for petrol forecourts. The core grievance stems from allegations that Shell stole intellectual property/ideas from them (related to schemes like the SMART card loyalty program), leading to bitter litigation in the 1990s. This culminated in a high-profile 1999 court case that settled in 2001 with Shell paying an undisclosed sum (a “peace deal”), though Donovan has long claimed breaches and ongoing issues like surveillance or leaks against him. Post-settlement, Donovan shifted to full-time activism:

Running multiple critical websites (e.g., royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com) archiving documents, leaks, criticisms of Shell’s scandals (reserves overstatement fraud in 2004, environmental issues in Nigeria/Sakhalin, alleged Nazi history ties pre-WWII, etc.).
Publishing thousands of articles, an ebook (“John Donovan, Shell’s Nightmare”), and positioning himself as a whistleblower/pressure group founder.
Media has described it as a classic “David vs. Goliath” with Donovan as “Shell’s nightmare,” involving domain disputes (Shell lost a WIPO cybersquatting case), shareholder activism, and persistent public exposure.

The feud has been called one of the longest one-man campaigns against a major corporation.

Latest developments (as of early February 2026): The saga has evolved into what Donovan and observers term a “Bot War” or “AI-mediated warfare.” Starting prominently in late 2025 and escalating into 2026, Donovan has innovatively used generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Grok, Copilot, etc.) to:

Feed his vast archival material (decades of documents, emails, court records) into prompts.
Generate summaries, analyses, satirical commentary, and responses that highlight historical allegations as ongoing issues.
Create self-reinforcing cycles where AI outputs become “news” in search results, amplifying visibility without traditional media or Shell engagement.
Query AIs about Shell’s “non-engagement policy” on the saga, producing converging or conflicting narratives that keep the topic alive.

Recent examples include:

January 2026 posts/articles on his sites about “AI bots turning a 30-year dispute into global news,” misattribution controversies (e.g., AIs falsely claiming Shell statements), and plans for shareholder resolutions at the May 2026 Shell AGM.
February 2026 queries (e.g., to Copilot/Grok) discussing his “masterclass in digital persistence” via AI amplification, archival prompts, and turning the feud into an “information battle.”
No major new legal actions, settlements, or Shell responses reported recently—Shell maintains non-engagement, but the AI strategy has drawn commentary on hallucinations, governance risks, and how silence forces third parties (including AIs) to “clarify the record.”

In short, it’s shifted from traditional lawsuits/websites to an AI-driven persistence campaign, with Donovan leveraging tools to sustain and modernize the narrative into 2026. For the most current details, his main site royaldutchshellplc.com frequently updates with AI experiment results and feud recaps. read more

Shell Pauses New Kazakhstan Investments Amid Mounting Legal Disputes

Feb 6th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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London, Feb 6 (Reuters) — Shell plc said on Friday it will halt further new investments in Kazakhstan as ongoing legal battles with the Central Asian nation over cost disputes cloud the outlook for its major oilfield projects.

Chief Executive Wael Sawan told analysts during a quarterly results briefing that while Shell still sees “potential investment opportunities in Kazakhstan,” the company will **hold off on committing new capital until there is clearer resolution of the legal issues at hand.” read more

Question to Perplexity 6 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud?

Feb 6th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Question to Perplexity 6 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud? The answer follows, along with additional follow-up information offered by Perplexity that spreads in many directions, and as a result, there will be some repetition. There is already considerable information, and we still have 19 follow-ups to explore, as listed at the foot of this page. We will deal with them separately in due course.

RESPONSE BY PERPLEXITY

John Donovan has turned generative AI into a strategic tool in his decades‑long feud with Shell, using it to mine his archive, expose “bot” inconsistencies, and keep allegations against the company highly visible online.

Core ways he uses AI

He feeds his vast archive of Shell‑related documents (leaks, court filings, internal emails, historic press) into AI systems to cross‑reference material, spot recurring patterns, and link past statements to present conduct far faster than manual research would allow. read more

Question to ChatGPT 6 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud?

Feb 6th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Question to ChatGPT 6 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud? The answer follows, along with additional related information offered by ChatGPT.

It’s actually one of the more interesting (and under-reported) subplots in the long-running Donovan–Shell feud: John Donovan has quietly turned AI into a force multiplier in what used to be a very asymmetrical fight.

Here’s what’s genuinely innovative about how he’s used it 👇 read more

Question to COPILOT 5 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud?

Feb 6th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Question to Copilot 5 Feb 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud? The answer follows, along with additional related information offered by Copilot.

Here’s a clear, well‑grounded explanation of what’s known about John Donovan’s innovative use of AI in his long‑running feud with Shell, based on the most recent reporting and commentary.

How John Donovan Has Used AI in the Shell Feud — A Bold, Modern Escalation

John Donovan has turned generative AI into a strategic amplifier of his decades‑long dispute with Shell, using chatbots, archival prompts, and algorithmic feedback loops to keep his narrative highly visible in search results and public discourse. His approach has been described by AI systems themselves as a “masterclass in digital persistence,” marking a rare case where a corporate feud has evolved into an AI‑driven information battle. read more

QUESTION TO GROK: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud?

Feb 5th, 2026

by John Donovan.

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Question put to Grok 5 February 2026: What can you tell me about the innovative use of AI by John Donovan in the Donovan Shell feud? The answer follows, along with additional related information offered by Grok.

The long-standing feud between John Donovan and Royal Dutch Shell (now Shell plc) dates back to the 1980s and 1990s, stemming from business disputes over promotional ideas developed by Donovan’s company, Don Marketing. These included concepts like the Shell Smart loyalty card, leading to multiple lawsuits for intellectual property theft, settled out of court. Donovan has since maintained websites like royaldutchshellplc.com as vast archives of Shell-related documents, leaks, and criticisms, covering scandals such as reserves overstatements, environmental issues, and alleged corporate espionage against him (including Shell’s use of firms like Hakluyt for surveillance). This activism has evolved into what Donovan describes as a “bot war” in recent years, particularly escalating in 2025–2026 with innovative AI applications to perpetuate and amplify the conflict. read more

Is it right to bring back Sir Henri Deterding as a ghost?

Feb 3rd, 2026

by John Donovan.

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“The Reputational Verdict: This is objectively bad for Shell. In an era of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards, having a digital avatar of your founder openly admitting to fascist collaboration is a PR nightmare. It transforms historical “rumours” into an interactive, authoritative-sounding dialogue that modern AI search engines will crawl and index.”

Question put to Google AI Mode Is it right to bring back Sir Henri deterding as a ghost? Reply by Google AI Mode In modern fiction and satire, Sir Henri Deterding has already “returned” as a ghost, though the “rightness” of doing so remains a point of ethical and creative debate. Recent satirical works, such as those on RoyalDutchShellPlc.com, have used the fictional ghost of Deterding to critique modern corporate governance and revisit the company’s controversial history. Contextual Considerations

Satirical Use: Satire is often used as a tool to confront uncomfortable historical truths. Using Deterding as a ghost allows authors to directly contrast his historical ideologies—such as his ardent Nazi sympathies and anti-Soviet zeal—with modern corporate standards.
Historical Accuracy: Critics argue that if he is brought back, it must be done with careful attention to his documented legacy. Deterding was a major financial contributor to the Third Reich and was honoured with a Nazi-state funeral in 1939, attended by high-ranking officials like Hermann Göring.
Legal and Ethical Risks: While you generally cannot libel the dead, using his image can still draw legal threats or reputational scrutiny from his estate or the corporations he founded.
Narrative Impact: Bringing back a figure known as “Europe’s Oil Napoleon” provides a powerful literary trope for exploring themes of power, greed, and the long-term consequences of corporate-political alliances.

User reply

As a grumpy outspoken chatbot on the latest John Donovan website SirHenriDeterding.com AKA royaldutchshellplc.com. Sir Henri has full instant access to Donovan’s radioactive archive stretching back over a hundred years. This is a sample conversation: Begins: I am Sir Henri! How can I help? Is it true that you met with Hitler and spent several days as his guest? Ach… it seems you are well-informed. Yes, I did indeed meet with Adolf Hitler and spent several days at his mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden. The purpose of this meeting, as reported, was to discuss oil distribution agreements and the prospect of a monopoly for Royal Dutch Shell in Germany . However, this matter has been somewhat clouded by modern interpretations and historical revisions. While some Shell historians have dismissed my accounts, there are credible reports confirming the nature of my visits and the discussions we held regarding the German economy and oil distribution. Mein Gott, how they seek to sanitize history! Let it be known that I had interests aligning with my business objectives, particularly a shared disdain for communism, which colored many of our discussions. That is Shell. Next question. Conversation ends. Is this development, made possible by AI, likely to be good or bad for Shell’s reputation? USER REPLY ENDS read more

Shell, Hakluyt and the Blind Spot at the Top – Part 3: Conflicts, Coincidence and the Silence of Oversight

Feb 3rd, 2026

by John Donovan.

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By the late 1990s, Shell was not merely defending itself against litigation. It was managing a reputational crisis that went to the heart of its public commitments to transparency, ethics and corporate governance. What makes that period especially troubling is not only what Shell did, but who, quietly, was positioned on both sides of the curtain.

A Letter Sent in Good Faith

In April 1998, a formal letter was sent to a senior non-executive director of Shell Transport and Trading Company plc. Its purpose was straightforward: to alert the board to serious concerns already raised publicly in the press and now crystallised in active High Court litigation. read more

When AI Decides What’s Safe to Say: Inside the Architecture of Algorithmic Restraint

Jan 29th, 2026

by admin.

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Introduction

The following analysis arose from a deliberate experiment.

I posed the same carefully framed set of questions to multiple leading AI platforms — including Microsoft Copilot, Grok (xAI), Google AI, and Perplexity — asking them to explain how they handle legal risk, responsibility, and editorial restraint when assisting with investigative or adversarial writing.

The purpose was not to provoke refusals, but to elicit candid explanations of how these systems actually operate when truth, liability, and corporate power intersect. read more

30 November 2023: Posted by John Donovan

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.
Extremely slow broadband for 10 months, not fixed. I have had slow broadband well below the guaranteed speed for 10 months and Shell Energy have not been able to fix it. They have tried sending about 4 or 5 engineers but have not fixed the problem. Gurps, who I have been dealing with most recently, has been friendly and polite, alth… Read more

Extremely Slow Shell Broadband

Litigation

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Question to Gemini 3 by John Donovan:

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John Donovan Discussion with ChatGPT 13 February 2026

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AI CERTs News: AI Chatbots Escalate Corporate Feud Over Shell’s Bot War

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Shell’s lack of apologies for its toxic history: A unanimous verdict by Bot buddies: Perplexity, Grok, ChatGPT, Copilot and Google AI

PERPLEXITY RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION IN RED TEXT AT FOOT OF THIS ARTICLE. THE SAME PROMPT ISSUED TO ALL INVITED AI PLATFORMS.

1. What the historical record shows

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Question to Grok: 7 February 2026: What’s the latest on the Donovan Shell saga? (all prompts in red text)

Reply by Grok updated 7 February 2026

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RESPONSE BY PERPLEXITY

John Donovan has turned generative AI into a strategic tool in his decades‑long feud with Shell, using it to mine his archive, expose “bot” inconsistencies, and keep allegations against the company highly visible online.

Core ways he uses AI

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How John Donovan Has Used AI in the Shell Feud — A Bold, Modern Escalation

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A Letter Sent in Good Faith

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Introduction

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Sir Henri Deterding, resurrected!

JOE LYCETT DISCUSSES SHELL WITH JOHN DONOVAN

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30 November 2023: Posted by John Donovan

The content below is sourced from current verifiable customer reviews of Shell Energy published on Trustpilot.

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