global predator / exploitative

Cards (4)

  • Global Predator
    Human Rights Firm International Rights Advocates
    • 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 hazardous conditions → 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 secretly slowed down old iPhone battery capacities.