Several tech companies named in underage labor lawsuit over Cobalt mining

Microsoft and Dell are said to be included.

What you will need to know

Apple, Google, and Tesla have been named in a lawsuit over alleged child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The lawsuit alleged that tech companies have exploited underage labor.
Cobalt is used in Lithium-ion batteries.

Apple, Google, and Tesla have been named in a lawsuit alleging that tech firms knowingly used Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has been mined by children in the manufacturing of Lithium-ion batteries.

As reported by AppleInsider, the lawsuit was filed by a band known as International Rights Advocates, by Terrence Collingsworth in the District of Columbia. International Rights Advocates stated in a press release:

IRAdvocates filed a national class-action lawsuit now (see link below to the full complaint) on behalf of 14 Doe Plaintiffs who are guardians of children killed in wall or tube collapses while mining cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) or children who were maimed in such mishaps. The DRC has the world’s biggest deposits of cobalt, an important element of rechargeable lithium-ion battery in goods made electric car companies and by all tech. The tech boom has caused an explosion in demand for cobalt, but in one of its most intense contrasts imaginable, cobalt is headquartered in the DRC under extremely dangerous stone age states by children paid a dollar or two a day to supply cobalt for its expensive gadgets made by a number of the richest companies in the world. The lawsuit names Apple, Alphabet (Google), Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla as Defendants.

The release further states that the Plaintiffs have proof”these companies in particular aided and abetted the mines that abused and profited from forcing Plaintiffs and other children to mine cobalt under conditions that led to their deaths or serious, crippling injuries.” It’s also stated that the investigation into these companies is ongoing, and that companies are expected to be added into the lawsuit. It’s believed to be”well-documented” that children aren’t just being made to work full-time, dangerous tasks as opposed to be educated, but that these children are frequently being maimed and murdered in the process. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of 14 Plaintiffs, stated to be the guardians of children killed in circumstances or children themselves who have been maimed in wall or tube collapse.

According to the post, the plaintiffs are seeking relief based on”common law claims of unjust enrichment, negligent supervision, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” There’s not any indication at this stage as to how the situation will proceed or some other timetable.

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