Apple—Apple supply chain linked to child labor in Congolese cobalt mines
Apple's battery supply chain has been linked to cobalt from small-scale Congolese mines using child labor. A 2016 Washington Post investigation traced cobalt from harsh mining conditions to Chinese supplier Congo DongFang International Mining (Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt), which supplied battery makers producing batteries for iPhones. Apple acknowledged approximately 20% of its cobalt came from Huayou Cobalt. In 2019, human rights group International Rights Advocates filed a class-action lawsuit representing 14 Congolese children killed or maimed in cobalt mining. In December 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo filed criminal complaints against Apple in France and Belgium for using 'conflict minerals,' alleging Apple ignored warnings from lawyers in April 2024.
Scoring Impact
| Topic | Direction | Relevance | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child Safety | -against | secondary | -0.50 |
| Supply Chain Ethics | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Worker Rights | -against | primary | -1.00 |
| Overall incident score = | -0.552 | ||
Score = avg(topic contributions) × significance (critical ×2) × confidence (0.66)× agency (negligent ×0.5)
Evidence (2 signals)
International Rights Advocates filed class-action lawsuit representing 14 Congolese children killed or maimed in cobalt mining
International Rights Advocates filed injunctive relief and damages class-action lawsuit against Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Tesla representing fourteen Congolese parents and children for aiding and abetting use of young children in DRC cobalt mining. Lawsuit claimed Apple had 'specific knowledge from public reports' that sourced cobalt 'was mined in significant part by young children performing hazardous work.'
Washington Post traced Apple battery cobalt from Congo child labor mines through Huayou Cobalt supplier
Washington Post investigation traced cobalt pipeline from small-scale Congolese mines using child labor to Congo DongFang International Mining (Huayou Cobalt) that supplied battery makers for iPhones. Apple acknowledged 20% of cobalt came from Huayou. Investigation detailed miners including children laboring in hazardous conditions.