Tech giants in the US are facing a lawsuit over the deaths of child cobalt miners. The lawsuit alleges that companies such as Apple, Google parent company Alphabet, Tesla, and Microsoft have aided and abetted in the deaths and injuries of children working in cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Cobalt is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles. However, the mining of cobalt in the Congo has been linked to child labor abuses, with children as young as six years old forced to work in hazardous conditions.
The lawsuit, filed by the International Rights Advocates on behalf of 14 families in Congo, accuses the tech giants of knowingly benefiting from the labor of child miners and failing to take action to prevent human rights abuses in their supply chains.
Tech companies have faced increasing scrutiny over their supply chains in recent years, as consumers and advocacy groups demand greater transparency and accountability. The lawsuit highlights the need for companies to ensure that their products are ethically sourced and that workers at every stage of the supply chain are treated fairly.
The tech giants involved in the lawsuit have yet to respond to the allegations, but the case is a reminder of the human cost behind the products we use every day. Consumers have the power to demand ethical practices from companies and hold them accountable for their actions.
