Cobalt-Mining Children Get a Voice in Front of U.S. Courts

A U.S.-based human rights nonprofit has filed a legal complaint against five of the world’s largest tech companies for being part of a system of forced child labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The complaint was filed on behalf of 14 families who claim their children were killed or seriously injured mining cobalt – a metal used to make computers and telephones – through forced labor. It argues that the companies are all able to ensure safer conditions by overhauling their cobalt supply.

The suit, filed by International Rights Advocates, was the first time the tech industry jointly faced legal action over the source of its cobalt. The companies sued are Tesla Inc, Apple Inc, Google’s holding company Alphabet Inc, Microsoft Corp and Dell Technologies Inc.