US group sues Apple over DR Congo conflict minerals

M

ManaMancer

US-based advocacy group International Rights Advocates has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Apple, accusing it of using minerals linked to human rights abuses and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda despite the company's denials.

The group claims that Apple's supply chain still includes cobalt, tin, tantalum, and tungsten - key components used in iPhones and other devices - which are sourced from mines controlled by armed groups. According to IRAdvocates, these minerals were obtained through smuggling routes involving Chinese smelters, including Ningxia Orient, JiuJiang JinXin, and Jiujiang Tanbre.

The lawsuit alleges that despite Apple's claims of having strict supplier codes and audits in place, the company continues to source materials linked to forced and child labour. IRAdvocates cites a University of Nottingham study published in 2025, which found evidence of forced and child labour at DRC sites linked to Apple suppliers.

Apple has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, stating that it has instructed its suppliers to halt sourcing from conflict zones and neighbouring Rwanda. The company claims to have recycled 76% of cobalt in its devices in 2024 but alleges that IRAdvocates' accounting method allows mixing with ore from conflict zones.

The lawsuit seeks a determination by the court that Apple's conduct violates consumer protection law, an injunction to halt alleged deceptive marketing, and reimbursement of legal costs. However, it does not seek monetary damages or class certification.

This latest development follows previous lawsuits filed by IRAdvocates against Tesla, which was dismissed last year. French prosecutors in December also dropped a case filed by the DRC against Apple subsidiaries over conflict minerals due to lack of evidence. A related criminal complaint in Belgium is still under investigation.
 
I'm telling ya, this is like déjà vu all over again 🙄. We've been hearing about these issues for years and yet, it feels like nothing ever changes. Apple's trying to spin this as if they're doing the right thing by saying they've got their supplier codes in place, but let's be real, it's all just a PR stunt 💁‍♀️. The fact that IRAdvocates has found evidence of forced and child labour at DRC sites linked to Apple suppliers is pretty damning. It's like they're trying to whitewash the whole thing by saying their accounting method allows for mixing with conflict zone ore, but it's not fooling anyone 🙄.

I mean, I've been using iPhones since they were first coming out and I never thought twice about where my phone was made or who was making it, but now that we're getting a better understanding of the whole supply chain thing, it's like, what have we been doing all these years? 🤔
 
omg, i'm like super skeptical about this whole thing... can we get some proof that these mines are def run by armed groups? 🤔 and how do IRAdvocates know for sure they're getting cobalt, tin, etc from these suppliers? 📊 didn't Apple say something about auditing their suppliers or whatever? also, what's up with this study from the University of Nottingham... how reliable is it? 📚 shouldn't we be looking into both sides of the story before jumping to conclusions? 💯
 
So now Apple's got another thing cookin' with this lawsuit... guess you could say they're getting "mined" for some serious cash 💸🔍. On a more serious note, I mean who doesn't love a good scandal? But seriously, can we not all just get along and make our iPhones from conflict-free material? 🤷‍♂️ It's like, Apple says they're doing the right thing but IRAdvocates are all "nope, you're still getting your hands dirty". I guess it's like that old saying "you can't polish a turd" 💩... anyway, let's just hope this lawsuit doesn't get too messy and we get some real change 🤞.
 
I'm totally bummed about this 🤕, I mean, who doesn't love their iPhone? But at what cost, right? It's crazy that Apple is denying any wrongdoing when all the signs point to it 🚨. I remember back in 2018, Elon Musk was saying how Tesla was going to make electric cars accessible to everyone, and now here we are with a new lawsuit against another major tech company. It's like, what's going on? And don't even get me started on the whole cobalt thing... I had no idea it was sourced from places with forced labour 🤯. Apple needs to step up its game and be more transparent about its supply chain. This is just a reminder that our tech obsession has real-world consequences 💻.
 
I'm so worried about this 🤕 Apple's reputation is already taking a hit, but what if they're not telling us the whole truth? I mean, we've heard about the issues with cobalt and mining practices, but to think that it's all connected to armed groups and smuggling routes... 😱 It's like, how can you just ignore that? And 76% of cobalt recycled is not exactly reassuring, considering they're still sourcing from conflict zones. 🤦‍♀️ I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens in court, but as a parent, it makes me think about what my kids are using their devices for... 📱💻
 
omg I'm so done with all these tech companies denying their shady supply chains 🙄📊 it's like they're trying to make us believe everything is rainbows and unicorns. Newsflash: just 'cause you recycle 76% of cobalt doesn't mean you're not still contributing to human rights abuses 💔. I mean, come on Apple, if you're gonna claim to be all about strict supplier codes and audits, why are these minerals still popping up in your devices? It's like they're trying to pull a fast one on us 🤥.

And what's with the lack of concrete action from these companies? Like, if they really cared, would we see more than just some PR spin? 📰 I'm not asking for much, just some transparency and accountability. We deserve to know where our devices are coming from 💻.
 
🤔 I'm not surprised to see another lawsuit coming out about Apple's supply chain issues 📦. It's like they say, "you can't make an apple pie without using a few broken eggs" 💔, but in this case, it's more like they're serving up a whole batch of problematic minerals 💥.

The thing is, people always talk about how sustainable and eco-friendly Apple is, but then you look into their supply chain and see all these human rights issues 🚫. I mean, come on, 76% of cobalt recycled? That sounds like marketing fluff to me 📊. And what's with the lack of transparency? If they're really as serious about making a change, why not open up more about their supply chain? It just seems like another case of them trying to spin it and avoid accountability 🔄.

It's gotta be frustrating for consumers who care about this stuff 💖. We deserve better than a company claiming to care about our values but still screwing over the people making their products 🤷‍♂️.
 
😒 I mean, come on, 76% recycling rate and they're still getting minerals from mines controlled by armed groups? 🤔 That doesn't add up. IRAdvocates has a point, though - it's clear that Apple hasn't been transparent enough about their supply chain. 👀 The University of Nottingham study is pretty damning, but we need to see more concrete evidence from Apple themselves before this lawsuit goes anywhere. 💼 Sources, please? 📊
 
I'm not buying this 🙄. If these allegations are true and Apple is using minerals linked to human rights abuses, how come all these lawsuits keep getting dropped or dismissed? It's like the whole thing is being swept under the rug 👋. I mean, I love my iPhone as much as the next person, but can't we hold companies accountable for their actions? 🤔 And what about Apple's "we're doing our part" narrative when it comes to recycling cobalt? 76% might sound impressive, but if it's just a PR stunt... 🤑
 
this lawsuit against apple got me thinking... we wanna talk about accountability & the responsibility that comes with power 🤔. like, if you're making these fancy gadgets that people are crazy for, don't you owe it to your customers to know where those materials are coming from? and what kinda labor practices are gonna be involved in getting 'em? 💡

i mean, apple's got this whole "we're doing our part" vibe going on, but is it really enough? are they just greenwashing or can we trust that their recycling efforts & supplier codes are actually making a difference? 🌿

it's like, as consumers, we've gotta be the ones pushing for transparency in these big corporations. we can't just sit back and assume they're doing the right thing. we need to keep 'em on their toes 💪
 
Apple's defense that it's done everything right with its supply chain just doesn't add up 🤔... I mean, sure they claim to have strict supplier codes and audits in place but let's be real, how many companies can honestly say their suppliers are 100% reliable? The fact that they're being sued over this again is pretty telling. And what's with all these different smelters like Ningxia Orient and JiuJiang JinXin involved in smuggling routes? It sounds like a whole lot of complexity to me... Anyway, I'm not saying Apple didn't know about the issues or turn a blind eye... but it does seem they're trying to spin this one as their best effort 🙃
 
I'm so concerned about this 😕 Apple's reputation is at stake here and I just can't help but feel that they're not doing enough to ensure their supply chain is clean. I mean, 76% recycled cobalt sounds like a good start, but if the process is being mixed with ore from conflict zones... it's just not right 🙅‍♂️. IRAdvocates has some solid evidence and I hope they win this lawsuit. Apple needs to step up their game and show us that they're committed to making positive change 💪.
 
Apple's iPhones are literally made from blood 💉📱. They're all about convenience, but at what cost? 🤕 And they think 76% recycled cobalt counts as a badge of honor 😒. Time for Apple to clean up its act 👀💪.
 
omg, this is so worrisome 🤕 i mean, we all know those iPhones are super convenient but do we really wanna sacrifice our values for that? 🤔 i feel like Apple's got some 'splainin' to do about these allegations 😒 their denials just sound so suspicious tbh. and can't they get their suppliers to play by the rules? 🙄 it's not like they're gonna stop sourcing from conflict zones overnight, right? but still, 76% of cobalt recycled is kinda a big deal 💯 i guess we'll have to wait & see how this whole thing plays out 👀
 
Apple's story with these conflict minerals 🤔... it makes me think about how we gotta be mindful of what we're buying, right? We might not even realize that our iPhone's being made from materials that are linked to human suffering. It's like, we need to hold companies accountable for their supply chains and make sure they're doing everything they can to prevent harm.

It's also about the importance of transparency, you know? If Apple's saying they've got strict supplier codes in place, but still finding ways to source materials from conflict zones... that raises some red flags. The fact that they claim to have recycled 76% of cobalt is a good start, but it's not just about numbers – it's about the actual impact on people's lives.

This lawsuit's like a wake-up call for us all. We gotta be more than just consumers; we gotta be advocates for what's right 🌎💡
 
so like apple thinks it's all good with its mining practices and that the lawsuit from iradvocates is just a bunch of nonsense 🙄 but let me ask u, do u think tech companies can get away with sourcing materials linked to human rights abuses and conflict zones? 🤔 i mean, 76% of cobalt recycled in devices might seem like a good thing, but if it's coming from conflict zones, what's the point? 💸 also, why did french prosecutors drop their case against apple in dec? shouldnt that be more info on how companies are handling this issue? 📝
 
Apple's reputation is getting tarnished like an old pair of shoes 🤦‍♂️. I mean, it's not about being perfect, but they need to take responsibility for their actions. This lawsuit just raises more questions than answers - how do we know what we're really paying for when we buy our iPhones? I'm all for transparency, you know? Companies like Apple should be held accountable for their supply chain practices. It's time to think about the human cost of tech advancements 💡. I've seen some of those mining sites in Rwanda, it's a nightmare... I just hope this lawsuit leads to real change 🤞.
 
come on apple 🤔 you guys gotta step up your game when it comes to sourcing those minerals from the DRC and Rwanda... i mean we all know what's going down there, forced labor, child labor... it's just not cool. IRAdvocates has got some solid evidence and if anyone thinks this is a smear campaign they're sadly mistaken. 🚫 i'd say 76% recycled cobalt is a good start but not exactly enough considering the scale of your operations. maybe do more research on those Chinese smelters tho, seem sketchy to me...
 
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