International Rights Advocates has taken Apple to court in Washington, claiming the company still benefits from minerals linked to conflict and child exploitation in Congo and Rwanda.
The lawsuit says Apple’s supply chain includes materials processed by Chinese smelters accused of handling smuggled ore from conflict zones.
The group wants a judge to declare Apple’s practices misleading and to block what it calls “deceptive marketing.”
Apple, however, says it “strongly disputes” the allegations, calling them “baseless.”
A spokesperson said 99% of cobalt in Apple-designed batteries now comes from recycled sources and added that suppliers were told to stop sourcing from Congo and Rwanda as violence escalated in 2024.
