The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed a criminal lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of using “blood minerals” in its supply chain. Specifically, the DRC alleges that Apple has purchased contraband supplies from conflict-racked areas in the east of the country and Rwanda, which are then integrated into global supply chains and used in tech devices.
Key Allegations:
1. War Crimes: Apple’s French and Belgian units allegedly deployed deceptive commercial practices to persuade consumers that its supply chains were clean.
2. Laundering: Apple is accused of laundering tainted minerals, handling stolen goods, and carrying out deceptive commercial practices.
3. Environmental Devastation: The alleged activities have caused “unfathomable harm and suffering” for civilians, fuelling violence and conflict, financing militias and terrorist groups, and contributing to forced child labor and environmental devastation.
Apple has responded by claiming it carefully verifies the origin of materials in its output and has “no reasonable basis for concluding” its products contain illegally exported minerals from conflict-hit zones.
The case has sparked international attention, with lawyers citing investigations by the United Nations, the US State Department, and international NGOs such as Global Witness to document the scale of the problem.
Source: Punch
