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The allegation leveled against the company is of illegally using what it described as “blood minerals” in its supply chain.The allegations also include war crimes, laundering, forgery, and deception.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has sued) Multinational tech giant Apple’s subsidiaries in Belgium and France. The allegation leveled against the company is of illegally using what it described as “blood minerals” in its supply chain. The allegations also include war crimes, laundering, forgery, and deception.
Officials of the Congolese government allege that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the conflict-ravaged eastern DRC and Rwanda. Both the zones are known for illegal mining. The DRC government says they were then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in the company’s devices. Apple units in the two countries are also accused of adopting deceptive commercial practices to take the tin, tantalum, and tungsten from conflict zones and then “laundered through international supply chains”.
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Several United Nations experts and human rights groups state that say some of the artisanal mines are controlled and run by armed groups involved in human right violations like the killing of civilians, mass rapes, looting, and other crimes.
Apple refuted the allegations and claimed that though it sources its primary materials indirectly, it does careful verification of their origin. However, the authorities in France and Belgium have agreed to look into the issue.
