“AI Misattribution Controversy (Jan 23): Donovan highlighted an incident where an AI model incorrectly claimed Shell had issued a public statement in mid-January 2026…”
Prompt: Latest news on Donovan Shell feud as of 23 January 2026
Reply from Google AI Mode
As of January 23, 2026, the long-standing dispute between activist John Donovan and Shell plc has evolved into what is being termed a “Bot War.” Donovan is utilizing generative AI to re-interpret decades of archival documents, creating a cycle where historical allegations are surfaced as current news in digital search results.
The latest developments in late January 2026 include:
- AI Misattribution Controversy (Jan 23): Donovan highlighted an incident where an AI model incorrectly claimed Shell had issued a public statement in mid-January 2026 regarding his claims. Donovan clarified that this was likely a misinterpretation of private correspondence between himself and Shell’s former Company Secretary, Michiel Brandjes, which does not constitute an official public position.
- Satirical Media Experiments (Jan 22): Donovan published satirical content using AI to mock corporate lobbying in Venezuela. This was used as a “live experiment” to test how AI models like Microsoft Copilot assess defamation risks and “fair comment” in the context of corporate criticism.
- 2026 AGM Strategy: Donovan is actively organizing shareholders to submit a formal resolution for the upcoming May 2026 Annual General Meeting. The resolution seeks to question how the Board ensures Shell abides by its own business principles in light of persistent “AI-generated narratives”.
- Historical Re-interpretation: New articles published in January 2026 revisit the company’s historical ties, specifically challenging Shell’s authorized history regarding former leader Sir Henri Deterding and meetings with Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.
- Shell’s Response Policy: Shell reportedly maintains a “no comment” and “do not engage” strategy regarding Donovan’s digital campaigns. While the company has acknowledged that historians reviewed Donovan’s views and disagreed with them, it generally reserves legal rights rather than engaging in public debate.
For further details and source materials, you can visit RoyalDutchShellPlc.com, which serves as the primary repository for Donovan’s activism.
AI responses may include mistakes.
EBOOK TITLE: “SIR HENRI DETERDING AND THE NAZI HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
EBOOK TITLE: “JOHN DONOVAN, SHELL’S NIGHTMARE: MY EPIC FEUD WITH THE UNSCRUPULOUS OIL GIANT ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
EBOOK TITLE: “TOXIC FACTS ABOUT SHELL REMOVED FROM WIKIPEDIA: HOW SHELL BECAME THE MOST HATED BRAND IN THE WORLD” – AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.
