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Wikipedian

How Shell Helped Rewrite Its Own History on Wikipedia

Wikipedia sells itself on a simple promise: a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

For most topics, that promise works beautifully. But when you reach the intersection of anonymous editing, big moneyand corporate reputation, things get murkier. My experience with Royal Dutch Shell and Wikipedia is a case study in how an open encyclopedia can be quietly sanitised – and how a giant corporation reacts when someone tries to document its history.

This article is drawn from my ebook Toxic Facts About Shell’s History on Wikipedia and related material on my Shell-focused websites, all of which I authored. 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.

How a 2009 Wikipedia Snapshot Outlived Shell’s Spin

 How a 2009 Wikipedia Snapshot Helped Expose Shell

Disclaimer 

Warning: satire ahead. The criticisms are pointed, the humour intentional, and the facts stubbornly real. Quotes are reproduced word-for-word from trusted sources. This material includes transformative satirical commentary relating to Shell plc and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Shell plc. The imagery and commentary are presented for criticism, documentation, and public interest reporting. As for authorship—John Donovan and AI both claim credit, but the jury’s still out on who was really in charge. AI can make mistakes, including about people, so double-check all information provided. 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.

1: Censoring Wikipedia

Wikipedia has been systematically cleansed of negative, but accurate, properly sourced, verifiable information about Royal Dutch Shell.  Entire articles about Shell were totally deleted. Fortunately, I kept copies, the content of which are republished in this book.  The above graphic is based on an article by The Independent: ”Mystery of the Wikifixer: who is the secret image-cleansing agent?)

I am a fan of Wikipedia and use it frequently. Its co-founders each deserve plaudits and respect for its creation and for making it free to use.

Regretfully, however, Wikipedia is flawed to a degree that damages the integrity of many Wikipedia articles that have a commercial connection. For example, Wikipedia articles about companies.

Such articles, covering the ethical conduct of a company, can potentially affect its value.

The basic flaw to which I am drawing attention is the policy of permitting anonymous editing of Wikipedia articles. It allows skullduggery to take place. 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.