The Democratic Republic of Congo has reportedly lost its case over Apple suppliers using conflict materials in the iPhone, at least as far as one court has decided.
For months in 2024, Apple was accused of allowing its suppliers to allegedly use the so-called 3T Materials — tin, tungsten and tantalum — from the Congo, and thereby funding violent groups.
Lawyers representing the Republic first asked Tim Cook and Apple's French subsidiary for a response, then in December 2024 they took the matter to court.
Apple has responded to iPhone 16e critics, and says that engineering choices like a lack of MagSafe that make the device unappealing to the tech-savvy don't matter to the larger market.
France appears to have dismissed a complaint that Apple has been using "conflict minerals" in the iPhone.
