alleged Apple and other TNCs were aware and had “specific knowledge” that the cobalt used in their products was linked to child labour in the DRC.
claims that children work in hazardousconditions → Apple was complicit and ‘knowingly benefitting from’ in the forced labour of these children.
Planned Obsolesce
Every September, Apple releases a new iPhone – and millions of people worldwide swap their perfectly functional iPhone for the new model.
This could be considered a technological version of fast fashion.
Users complain that their products are designed with a limited lifespan, so that they are forced to upgrade or trade-in their phone after a short period of time.
While Apple does have a trade-in program that allows users to trade-in their phone and upgrade to the new model, it does not fully combat the e-waste generated by their business model.
Battery-Gate
Apple consequently agreed to pay $113 million to settle consumer fraud lawsuits.
This was regarding allegations that it secretlyslowed down old iPhone battery capacities.