The connection between Congo and iPhones lies in the mining of cobalt, a critical component in the lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, including iPhones, as well as electric vehicles (EVs) and other electronics. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) supplies around 70% of the world's cobalt, much of which is extracted under hazardous conditions. A significant issue in the DRC's cobalt mining industry is the widespread exploitation of child labor. Many children work in artisanal mines, where safety regulations are largely absent, and they face serious health risks from exposure to
The connection between Congo and iPhones lies in the mining of cobalt, a critical component in the lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones, including iPhones, as well as electric vehicles (EVs) and other electronics. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) supplies around 70% of the world's cobalt, much of which is extracted under hazardous conditions. A significant issue in the DRC's cobalt mining industry is the widespread exploitation of child labor. Many children work in artisanal mines, where safety regulations are largely absent, and they face serious health risks from exposure to toxic cobalt dust. These children, some as young as two years old, help their families by mining cobalt under dangerous conditions, earning very little—sometimes less than a dollar a day. The use of child labor in cobalt mining has sparked lawsuits and growing pressure on major tech companies like Apple, Dell, and Tesla to ensure their supply chains are free of human rights abuses.
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