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DJ - Shell Personnel Data Leaked To NGOs, Protest Groups -Sources

By James Herron Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON (Dow Jones)--A database containing contact details of tens of thousands of employees of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN) was passed to non-governmental organizations critical of the company and environmental groups that have targeted it in past protests, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

The database contains contact details, including mobile phone numbers and home postcodes, for every Shell employee, workers at the company's joint ventures and some contractors. It is not clear if the groups will take any action with the data they received, the people told Dow Jones Newswires.

Shell was not immediately able to comment.

"We are investigating and are raising this theft of information with the relevant data protection authorities...if you receive any nuisance telephone calls or e-mails then please contact your line manager, HR or security," wrote Shell's Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Richard Wiseman, in an internal Shell memorandum posted on the Web site of John Donovan, a blogger critical of the company.

According to emails seen by Dow Jones, the leaked data could also compromise the personal safety of Shell workers. It includes the details of employees in dangerous locations like Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where Shell workers have been kidnapped.

-By James Herron, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 7842 9317; james.herron@dowjones.com



(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 09, 2010 09:51 ET (14:51 GMT) Copyright (c) 2010 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.