Skip to main content

Is your phone conflict free? If it's from Apple or Samsung, no, says Amnesty International

Is your phone conflict free? If it's from Apple or Samsung, no, says Amnesty International

amnesty international conflict cobalt report news child labor  artisan mining in kailo congo
Flickr/Julien Harneis
It takes a lot of metals and minerals to make our favorite gadgets, whether they’re smartphones, TVs, or everything in between. Just where these materials come from is under new scrutiny from Amnesty International. The organization claims it has traced the source of cobalt in the batteries from many smartphone makers — including Apple, Samsung, and Sony — to conflict zones in Africa.

“Millions of people enjoy the benefits of new technologies but rarely ask how they are made.”

Cobalt is just one among a number of minerals that are mined in regions of the world such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The DRC, unfortunately, is also home to ongoing conflicts that kill thousands, promote child labor, and a host of other nasty things. A new report by Amnesty International accuses Huawei, Lenovo, Microsoft, Sony, Apple, and Samsung by name as buyers of the conflict cobalt.

Related Videos

Amnesty International researched a number of investor documents to discover that a cobalt mining company in the DRC called Congo Dongfang Mining, processes and ships the minerals to a number of smartphone manufacturers in China and South Korea. The report documents how the mining company gets the cobalt from areas where child labor is used in unsafe mines. In total, 16 different companies are connected to the cobalt.

Cobalt is an important material for making lithium ion batteries, which come standard in just about everything that’s portable and electronic these days. In addition to cobalt, a number of other conflict minerals are known in the industry, including tungsten, tantalum, and tin. Organizations like the Enough Project have spoken extensively about the use of conflict minerals in smartphones for years. About half of the world’s cobalt comes from the DRC, where child labor and other tactics are used to meet the world’s production needs.

Conditions in the mines are rarely safe, and Amnesty International reports that most miners work without essential protective gear, such as gloves, work clothes, or face masks to protect their skin and lungs from disease. The organization says at least 80 miners died in the DRC between September 2014 and December 2015, and many more become ill from working in the poor conditions.

Conflict Minerals 101

To make matters worse, many of the miners Amnesty International interviewed were children who said they worked for 12 hours a day to earn a mere dollar or two. UNICEF says that approximately 40,000 children worked in mines in the DRC in 2014, and that the majority of them were mining cobalt.

Despite the data, there isn’t any regulation in the cobalt market, Amnesty International says, and cobalt isn’t listed as a “conflict mineral” in the United States.

“The glamorous shop displays and marketing of state of the art technologies are a stark contrast to the children carrying bags of rocks, and miners in narrow manmade tunnels risking permanent lung damage,” said Mark Dummett, Business & Human Rights Researcher at Amnesty International. “Millions of people enjoy the benefits of new technologies but rarely ask how they are made. It is high time the big brands took some responsibility for the mining of the raw materials that make their lucrative products.”

Some of the companies connected to this latest discovery — including Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft — have already responded to the claim, and are researching to confirm whether Congo Dongfang Mining materials reach their factories.

In 2014, Apple expressed its interest to phase out conflict minerals in the coming years by setting responsible sourcing standards for its materials and minerals used to produce its gadgets. Others, like Fairphone, aim to create conflict-free modular devices that are more sustainable and responsibly made.

You can read more about Amnesty International’s report or download the whole document on the organization’s site.

Editors' Recommendations

iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Who wins?
The Galaxy S21 Ultra's camera module.

There's no mistaking that the iPhone 13 Pro Max is the most deluxe, souped-up Apple smartphone you can buy right now. Boasting newly improved camera lenses, a stunning 120Hz refresh rate, an enlarged (and more efficient) battery, the new A15 Bionic chip, and the option to have a whopping 1TB in storage, it pretty much covers every single base a smartphone can cover.

However, while it may be the best iOS phone, it's not necessarily the best smartphone using any operating system. One other prime candidate for such a title is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, which also improves on its predecessor in several major areas. As with the iPhone 13 Pro Max, it really does put most other smartphones to shame, even if it's not for anyone looking to save a little money.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 vs. iPhone 12 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5g cream.

With the recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3, you might be wondering whether to invest in the latest foldable delight or pick up a new iPhone 12 Pro Max instead. True, the 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, A14 chip, and matte glass back of the iPhone 12 Pro Max are appealing, but the foldability, dual screens, and 120Hz refresh rate of the Z Flip 3 are calling out to you too.

Comparing two phones can be hard work -- but don't worry, we've done it for you. We've compared the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max across six core categories, from display to special features, to help you decide which one is worthy of your cash.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus vs. iPhone 11 Pro Max: Get Plus or go Max?
samsung galaxy s20 plus review back

Love a big phone? The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is still one of the biggest and best around, with a massive 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display and an incredibly versatile quad-lens camera. It's not the only big phone out there, though, and it seems everyone has one they prefer. For many, Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max was the best phone of its generation when it was released in 2019, with powerful flagship hardware, a long-lasting battery, and a jaw-droppingly good camera.

If you're due for an upgrade or simply want something new and shiny, both of these massive, powerful flagships are tempting purchases. At over $1,000 for each, though, it's unlikely you can buy both. Which is better for you? We found out.

Read more