Apple Hit With Criminal Complaints Over Congo Mineral Trade

[MacRumors]

Apple's subsidiaries in France and Belgium have had criminal complaints filed against them by the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its product supply chain (via Reuters).

The complaints allege that Apple is complicit in handling stolen goods and laundering minerals obtained through armed conflicts in the region.

Congo, a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten (3T minerals) used in computers and mobile phones, claims that Apple uses minerals pillaged from Congo and laundered through international supply chains. The complaints specifically target Apple France, Apple Retail France, and Apple Retail Belgium, accusing them of covering up war crimes and engaging in deceptive commercial practices. France and Belgium were reportedly chosen because of their perceived strong emphasis on corporate accountability.

Apple claims that it does not directly source primary minerals and conducts regular supplier audits. In its 2023 SEC filing, the company stated that none of its 3T mineral or gold suppliers had financed or benefited armed groups in Congo or neighboring countries.

The complaints focus on ITSCI, a metals industry-funded monitoring scheme designed to help companies perform due diligence on mineral suppliers. Congo's lawyers argue that Apple uses ITSCI as a "fig leaf" to falsely present its supply chain as clean, despite the scheme being suspended by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), of which Apple is a member.

Competition for minerals has been a significant driver of conflict in Congo's eastern mining regions since the 1990s, resulting in widespread civilian casualties and displacement. Armed groups often sustain themselves through mineral exports that are frequently smuggled through neighboring countries.

The judicial authorities in France and Belgium will now decide whether to investigate the complaints further and bring criminal charges.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Apple Hit With Criminal Complaints Over Congo Mineral Trade

 

[contacos]

The judicial authorities in France and Belgium will now decide whether to investigate the complaints further and bring criminal charges.

They investigate themselves? Reminds me of how the Country starting with I is always investigating its own (*alleged) war crimes

 

[dugbug]

"Apple opens a $1B research center in Belgium"

 

[StuBeck]

"Apple opens a $1B research center in Belgium"

Soon to be $10b research center in Belgium.

 

[wanha]

Having valuable resources in your country should be good for the country, its citizens and its economy.

And yet, here we are in a 30+ year conflict over who gets it all to themselves.

What a lovely species we are

 

[Prof.]

Having valuable resources in your country should be good for the country, its citizens and its economy.

And yet, here we are in a 30+ year conflict over who gets it all to themselves.

What a lovely species we are

We won't be here much longer.

 

[Naraxus]

Having valuable resources in your country should be good for the country, its citizens and its economy.

And yet, here we are in a 30+ year conflict over who gets it all to themselves.

What a lovely species we are

It goes back WAY more than 30+ years.

The novel & subsequent movie "King Leopold's Ghost" (narrated by Don Cheadle) is one of the most horrific movies I've ever seen.

Edit: I would love to hear from the poster who used the laughing emoji their reasoning behind using it. It's not funny at all.

 

[neuropsychguy]

It will be interesting if those making the criminal complaints have evidence against what Apple reports in its Conflict Material reports to the SEC: https://s203.q4cdn.com/367071867/files/doc_downloads/2024/04/Apple-Conflict-Minerals-Report.pdf

Also, the suspension of the ITSCI by RMI means that smelters sourcing minerals through ITSCI must do extra work to meet RMI auditing requirements. It doesn't mean that the minerals sourced are necessarily "dirty".

 

[XboxEvolved]

This is unfortunate, but I can’t see the top brass at Apple approving of this. Hopefully Apple is appropriately punished, they become more stringent, and they fire those responsible.

 

[CharlesShaw]

We won't be here much longer.

Well, it's certainly becoming harder to treat the themes of some TV shows and movies as mere fantasy.

 

[neuropsychguy]

This is unfortunate, but I can’t see the top brass at Apple approving of this. Hopefully Apple is appropriately punished, they become more stringent, and they fire those responsible.

That's assuming guilt. It's possible Apple does due diligence and this is a spurious complaint. It's also possible Apple is guilty; making a judgment in this extremely complex issue before all facts are known is unwarranted.

 

[coolfactor]

I don't believe this for a second. I strongly believe that Apple stands by its principles and isn't knowingly approving shady side deals.

 

[coolfactor]

This is unfortunate, but I can’t see the top brass at Apple approving of this. Hopefully Apple is appropriately punished, they become more stringent, and they fire those responsible.

There's a solution to dealing with glass-half-empty perceptions on the world. Get a smaller glass.

 

[transmaster]

And China gets off scot-free with all of the things they are doing in the Congo and elsewhere in Africa for these same metals.

 

[orev]

Indonesia was able to extort money out of Apple, now it's time for other countries to try it.

If they were really concerned about the mineral trade being unfair, they would be going after all tech companies and making a unified policy as a nation.

 

[Manzanito]

I don't believe this for a second. I strongly believe that Apple stands by its principles and isn't knowingly approving shady side deals.

Knowingly could very well be the key word in this matter.

 

[Total Respray]

The judicial authorities in France and Belgium will now decide whether to investigate the complaints further and bring criminal charges.

They investigate themselves? Reminds me of how the Country starting with I is always investigating its own (*alleged) war crimes

No, the judicial anuthorities would be investigating Apple corporate entities in those counties. It’s all there - nothing unusual in that.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I don't get it. How can Apple even tell? Where are these minerals supposed to come from that's not war torn?

It seems like they're doing the only thing they can do, relying on organizations in the field to give them reliable information. I don't see how Apple could be at fault here. I seriously doubt they knowingly, purposely purchased raw materials from warlords.

 

[Plutonius]

So the Congo's evidence of Apple using conflict minerals is that Apple uses the ITSCI monitoring standard in their audits.

How does that show that Apple is purposely using conflict materials and why is Apple the only one being sued ?

It sounds like it's a cash grab to me..

 

[CarAnalogy]

We won't be here much longer.

Seems more likely someone will invade this area and "secure" these minerals.

And China gets off scot-free with all of the things they are doing in the Congo and elsewhere in Africa for these same metals.

As the article says, France and Belgium will supposedly police themselves. China investigated their own behavior and, turns out, they're fine with it.

 

[collin_]

Just another day in the insanely complex logistics of geopolitics and managing a global supply chain...

 

[rgwebb]

France mad that Apple doing business with an African nation not being pliant enough while under the heel of French monetary policy?

 

[lkrupp]

That's assuming guilt. It's possible Apple does due diligence and this is a spurious complaint. It's also possible Apple is guilty; making a judgment in this extremely complex issue before all facts are known is unwarranted.

Well this is the MacRumors comment section after all. Strange stuff gets posted here.

 

[lkrupp]

Indonesia was able to extort money out of Apple, now it's time for other countries to try it.

If they were really concerned about the mineral trade being unfair, they would be going after all tech companies and making a unified policy as a nation.

It’s likely they are going after other tech companies. Whenever something like this comes up MacRumors tends to imply it’s only Apple. They do it on a regular basis. Best to investigate other, more objective news sources about this.

 

[jonnyb098]

This is unfortunate, but I can’t see the top brass at Apple approving of this. Hopefully Apple is appropriately punished, they become more stringent, and they fire those responsible.

Really?! Apple is a business that is great at marketing and virtue signaling. Are they a tad better than others? Sure. But they exist to make money.