Apple faces criminal charges over conflict minerals and customer exploitation in Congo.

Apple is facing criminal charges in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). DRC criticizes Apple for illegally using conflict minerals, known as "blood minerals," which are mined using child labor to fund armed conflicts. This term refers to minerals extracted from illegal sources in conflicts where weapons are armed with children's labor.

This matter is being investigated by the EU and France. These countries have strong precedents in corporate responsibility cases...

Apple and Conflict Minerals

Human rights abuses are associated with major minerals such as tantalum, niobium, tungsten - 3T(3TG), and gold. The term 3TG encompasses all four minerals.

Apple does not directly purchase mineral materials. These materials are purchased by companies in the supply chain to manufacture components that will be sold to Apple iPhone manufacturers later. However, the company conducts due diligence to ensure that the supply chain is free of issues.

For example, in 2019, Apple instructed its suppliers to exclude five metal processing and reconditioning companies that failed this audit. The company stated that it had no concerns about the remaining companies.

Evidence Delivered in April

International lawyers representing the Korean government recently presented evidence to Apple that powerful materials could still be included in the company's supply chain.

The lawyer for Congo informed Apple's CEO team Cruise about some concerns regarding certain supply chains on April 22, and required responses from Apple's shareholders in France within three weeks. Amsterdam & Partners LLP law firm is investigating reports that several companies and military groups are exporting minerals from Congo via roads to Rwanda, Uganda, and Vladivostok.

Apple has not officially made a statement at this point, but last year, it informed the US Securities and Exchange Commission that all footers or reconditioners in its 3TG supply chain did not use conflict elements.

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According to the report, DRC has now filed criminal complaints in France and Benin.

International lawyers representing Congo argue that Apple is using stolen minerals from Congo through international supply chains and that this has made the company fearful of crimes occurring in Congo. Congo has pointed out that local authorities, Apple France, Apple Vietnam, and Apple Laos have committed various crimes. These include hiding war crimes, cleaning contaminated minerals, managing stolen goods, and issuing false advertisements claiming a clean supply chain to consumers.

The courts of the two countries will now evaluate the evidence and decide whether criminal penalties are necessary.

Photo of mining machinery from Arnos van Cessen's Unsplash