A human rights group in the United States has sued Apple, claiming the tech giant uses minerals tied to violence and human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) filed the complaint in a Washington court, directly challenging Apple’s public promises about ethical sourcing.
The lawsuit focuses on how Apple gets the materials needed to build iPhones and other devices. It alleges that Apple relies on supply chains involving three specific Chinese smelters: Ningxia Orient, Jiujiang JinXin, and Jiujiang Tanbre. According to the complaint, these companies processed coltan that armed groups smuggled out of Congo through Rwanda. The group points to investigations by the United Nations and Global Witness that link these specific mines to violent militias who use mineral profits to fund ongoing wars.
Evidence cited in the case includes a 2025 study by the University of Nottingham, which found forced and child labor at mining sites linked to Apple’s suppliers. IRAdvocates argues that this contradicts Apple’s marketing, which assures customers that their products are free from such abuses.
Notably, the advocacy group is not asking for money. Instead, they want the court to declare that Apple is violating consumer protection laws and to issue an order stopping the company from using what they call “deceptive marketing.”
Apple pushes back against these claims. The company has repeatedly stated that it audits its suppliers and follows a strict code of conduct. In December, Apple said it found “no reasonable basis” to believe its partners were funding armed groups. They also highlight their environmental progress, noting that 76% of the cobalt in their devices came from recycled sources in 2024.
However, the lawsuit argues that Apple’s accounting methods still allow conflict ore to mix with recycled materials. This marks the latest legal battle for IRAdvocates, who previously sued Apple and Tesla over similar issues, though U.S. courts dismissed that case last year.
