A new lawsuit has been lodged against Apple by a US advocacy group alleging minerals linked to labor exploitation and abuse are still found in their supply chain. Despite the tech giant’s claims to the contrary, the suit says their supply chain still includes cobalt, tin, tantalum and tungsten linked to hazardous child labor and forced labor in addition to armed groups in Congo and Rwanda. 

Under scrutiny for misleading marketing 

International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) is a Washington-based nonprofit that uses litigation as a tool to curtail rights abuses. Previously, they filed an unsuccessful suit that included Apple as well as Tesla and other companies over their cobalt sourcing. Now the new lawsuit asks the court to determine if Apple’s conduct violates consumer protection law. It also includes an injunction to halt alleged deceptive marketing around the subject of a clean supply chain.  

In as CNBC article IRAdvocates said about the case: 

Apple claims to source minerals responsibly and to be “dedicat[ed] to people and the planet.” In reality, Apple misleads consumers and obscures from the fact that its Suppliers are among the most corrupt, human rights abusers in the world.   

IRAdvocates say they filed the lawsuit on behalf of consumers who care about the ethical and environmental impact of their purchases. Pointing to Washington’s consumer protection laws, the suit underlines the consumer’s right to truthful marketing about the qualities, sourcing, and manufacturing practices of things being sold.  

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