Apple facing new forced labor and child labor charges

A new lawsuit has been lodged against Apple by a US advocacy group alleging minerals linked to labor exploitation and abuse are still found in their supply chain. Despite the tech giant’s claims to the contrary, the suit says their supply chain still includes cobalt, tin, tantalum and tungsten linked to hazardous child labor and forced labor in addition to armed groups in Congo and Rwanda. 

Under scrutiny for misleading marketing 

International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) is a Washington-based nonprofit that uses litigation as a tool to curtail rights abuses. Previously, they filed an unsuccessful suit that included Apple as well as Tesla and other companies over their cobalt sourcing. Now the new lawsuit asks the court to determine if Apple’s conduct violates consumer protection law. It also includes an injunction to halt alleged deceptive marketing around the subject of a clean supply chain.  

In as CNBC article IRAdvocates said about the case: 

Apple claims to source minerals responsibly and to be “dedicat[ed] to people and the planet.” In reality, Apple misleads consumers and obscures from the fact that its Suppliers are among the most corrupt, human rights abusers in the world.   

IRAdvocates say they filed the lawsuit on behalf of consumers who care about the ethical and environmental impact of their purchases. Pointing to Washington’s consumer protection laws, the suit underlines the consumer’s right to truthful marketing about the qualities, sourcing, and manufacturing practices of things being sold.  

From lawsuit to lawsuit, little has changed 

In response to previous lawsuits Apple has said it instructed all its suppliers to stop sourcing material from Congo and Rwanda. Now claiming 76% of the cobalt in its devices is recycled, if not more. However, the lawsuit alleges Apple’s accounting method allows mixing with ore from conflict zones.  

Terrence Collingsworth, Executive Director of International Rights Advocates stated: 

Six years ago, we put Apple on notice of child miners within its supply chain. This lawsuit demonstrates how little has changed regarding Apple’s dependence on labor exploitation and human rights abuse in the DRC. 

Indeed, the suit provides extensive evidence of forced and child labor, environmental degradation, corruption, human rights abuses, and ties to conflict. All buried deep inside Apple’s cobalt and tantalum supply chains. Tellingly, IRAdvocates points out Apple recently became one of the few companies to surpass $4 trillion in market value. From their view, without the use of exploitation and forced labor, the company could never have amassed such a “staggering share” of market value.  

Keep demanding sustainable supply chains 

Ending modern slavery isn’t just about just one action. Lawsuits, boycotts, and advocacy are all parts of the solution. And another key component is investing in solutions that address the root causes of modern slavery. In the case of labor exploitation and child labor, that means addressing conditions like poverty and hunger that push people into slavery in the first place. Stand with us and demand stronger laws that put people and planet before profits.