The legal complaint marks the first time the tech industry jointly has faced legal action over the source of its cobalt
NEW YORK – Five of the world’s largest tech companies have been accused of being complicit in the death of children in the Democratic Republic of Congo forced to mine cobalt, a metal used to make telephones and computers, in a landmark lawsuit.
It marked the first time the tech industry jointly has faced legal action over the source of its cobalt. “These companies – the richest companies in the world, these fancy gadget-making companies – have allowed children to be maimed and killed to get their cheap cobalt,” Terrence Collingsworth, an attorney representing the families, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
The lawsuit said the children, some as young as 6 years old, were forced by their families’ extreme poverty to leave school and work in cobalt mining owned by the British mining company Glencore. Glencore has previously been accused of using child labor.“Starve or go risk your life to try to eat. Those are the choices for these people,” said Collingsworth.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Indonesia files lawsuit against EU at WTO over palm oil biofuel restrictionsIndonesia files lawsuit against EU at WTO over palm oil biofuel restrictions GlobeBusiness
Read more »
Blackhawks say Marc Crawford will return as assistant in January after investigations into alleged past abuse of playersBlackhawks say Marc Crawford will return as assistant in January after investigations into alleged past abuse of players Globe_Sports
Read more »
Murder trial for man accused in Toronto van attack to begin on March 2Alek Minassian faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 16 counts of attempted murder in connection with the April 23, 2018 attack
Read more »
Canfor minority shareholders reject Pattison’s bid to take full controlThe forestry firm issued its own statement, saying Canfor’s special meeting scheduled in Vancouver for Wednesday has been cancelled
Read more »