{"id":140,"date":"2025-01-24T10:49:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T15:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/mining\/?p=140"},"modified":"2025-01-27T11:48:44","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T16:48:44","slug":"a-bloody-bite-out-of-africa-and-the-fight-against-it-the-drcs-lawsuit-against-apple-inc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/mining\/2025\/a-bloody-bite-out-of-africa-and-the-fight-against-it-the-drcs-lawsuit-against-apple-inc\/","title":{"rendered":"A Bloody Bite Out of Africa and the Fight Against It: The DRC\u2019s Lawsuit Against Apple Inc."},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2024 the DRC (the Democratic Republic of the <\/span>Congo<\/span><\/a>) government filed a massive lawsuit against the tech giant and global cell phone producer Apple. The lawsuit is over allegations of exploitation of resources, such as copper and cobalt, and illegal mining, along with deceptive marketing tactics that make their resource sources seem clean. Along with such allegations comes a plethora of other comments, ideas, and accusations involving everything from: colonization, the Rwandan government, France and Belgium, all the way to child slavery among other things. How do these things relate, however, and why are they related to Apple? In this blog post, we will try to explain why this lawsuit has been brought forward and the implications of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The minerals, metals, a<\/b>nd human rights:<\/b><\/p>\n

Various <\/span>resources<\/span><\/a> that are found in the DRC are used in the production of iPhones and related technology. These minerals include but are not limited to: copper and cobalt (which can be found in the copper belt region next to Zambia), tin, and lithium among others. These materials are used in both the structure of the phone and the batteries of iPhones. The image <\/span>below<\/span><\/a> shows where various materials can be found throughout the DRC.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A map showing where various minerals can be found in the DRC. LE MONDE DIPLOMATIQUE<\/span><\/p>\n

The reason that these resources are often a point of contention is due to the way in which they are collected. This collection of materials through exploitation has a long history in the DRC. This exploitation started in the 1800\u2019s with Leopold II of Belgium and his brutal colonial regime. While the DRC is now a free autonomous nation, the exploitation of the nation, its people, and its resources still continues today. Many of these materials are extracted by either western mining corporations (from nations such as Canada and the US) or mines run by Chinese corporations. These mines often have below quality standards of workplace safety; people work without safety gear and in dangerous conditions. Those employed in the mines are also often either consistently under-paid or work for wages which are constantly changing yet still far below a livable wage. There have also been various sources showing that <\/span>children<\/span><\/a>, some under the age of 10, are working in the mines; this amounts to child slavery\/labour. This mining is often violent and adds to conflict in the area, leading to murder and the sexual assault\/rape of women and girls. In addition, the mining process itself results in massive environmental damage and pollution that harms both animals, people and plant life in the area. All of these facts make using or sourcing materials in the DRC precarious.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A photo showing a young child working in a mineral mine in the DRC. MCGILL UNIVERSITY\/Valentin Migabo<\/span><\/p>\n

How Apple is involved:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The Apple company is a technological giant that makes a variety of products including: cell phones, digital pens, laptops, iPads and smart watches among others. Next to Android cell phones, <\/span>Apple<\/span><\/a> is one of the largest producers of cell phones across the world. In 2023 alone there was over 234 million iPhones shipped across the globe. These phones are then sold at a high price to individuals and companies. Many of the materials in Apple phones are, as mentioned above, made from minerals found in DRC. The Apple company has claimed that the minerals they used are either recycled (such as in the case with copper) or are <\/span>sourced<\/span><\/a> ethically from places like the Rwandan. The DRC has stated that Apple\u2019s claims are false and that the minerals are either directly exploited from the DRC or bought from Rwanda who has been taking minerals from the eastern parts of the DRC such as in South and North Kivu. Rwanda, which is a small nation to the right of the DRC, has denied these claims and has denied having links to the militant group March 23 (M23), rather claiming that their minerals are sourced ethically.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What happens next?<\/b><\/p>\n

At this point in time, it is unclear whether or not the lawsuit will be found in favour of Apple Inc or the DRC. Currently, <\/span>Belgium<\/span><\/a>, one of the nations Apple operates in who has been accused of exploitation, has taken on investigating these claims. The other main nation involved, France, has not yet taken action on the lawsuit. As time goes on we must wait and see whether justice will be given to the DRC, its people, and its environment, or whether capitalism and the Apple company will win again. For more information on the law suit please watch this <\/span>video.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Action points:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are you a student or staff member who wants to help? You can. Fight against exploitation by:<\/p>\n