570°

How Apple Profits From A System That Abuses Children -- And Why It's So Hard To Stop

A new report from Amnesty International suggests that companies including Apple, Samsung and Sony are profiting from child labor in Africa -- and no one should be surprised.

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huffingtonpost.com
WizzroSupreme3016d ago

It's hard to stop because everyone does it, Apple included. No one can ever point fingers when so many companies profit and so many people suffer a world away from their consumers. Sadly, it probably won't change until it becomes unprofitable and the industry shifts towards other means – hopefully more regulated, but maybe not.

rdgneoz33015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

Unless it's slave / forced labor, they might not really care too much.

"Amnesty International and Afrewatch researchers spoke to 87 current and former cobalt miners, 17 of them children"

"Current and former", meaning they were able to leave the job. The article doesn't mention being beaten, woken up at like 4 a.m., forced at gun point, etc like the slave labor peeling shrimp in Thailand has suffered through. Or not being able to leave the country to see their family, like the people in Qatar building the world cup arenas who've had their passports taken and couldn't even leave when there were problems in their home country.

gizmig3015d ago

Totally agreed. When come to the profit these companies never see what is at stake.

Stringerbell3015d ago

They do, they just dont care. Only when stories like this start to float around and this enters into the public discussion, do these companies miraculously develop a conscious.

I wont act high and mighty, I have no idea as to where the innards of phone, PC etc were sourced. Because as I said in a previous article, I had no idea this was a problem until only a few years ago. Now that I know I fully support means of sourcing these materials the right way.

jaymacx3015d ago

The whole world is built on the backs of cheap labor. The world we see in our isolated communities don't show us what happens else where... Watch the movie blood diamond it does a good job showing this.

gizmig3015d ago

The point is not the cheap labor here but the point is child labor and how they are exploiting the childhood of the kids.

EXTREMETECH3014d ago

Yes and thats for true they always see their profit and no one should come in between.

2pacalypsenow3014d ago (Edited 3014d ago )

As long as the worker gets paid and it's not slave labor its not the companies fault, the government should be the one to blame since they are the ones who regulate minimum wage. It's not the companies job to feel bad.

rdgneoz33014d ago

Yah, you want slave labor, go look at Thailand's shrimp industry (there was an article about it a month or so ago) and how Qatar's building the stadiums for the world cup (taking away a person's passport so they can't leave the country till the job is done and hundreds have died from the construction).

http://www.theguardian.com/...

http://www.theguardian.com/...

While it is sad, they aren't being held at gun point and the article mentions "current and former" workers, meaning they can quit.

gizmig3014d ago

It is really sad how people don't care about these children future. They just want their profit and rise higher.

gizmig3014d ago

Well to some extent you are right but the government as well as the company too should be blame.

quenomamen3014d ago

if you want hits for your article then blame it all on Apple.

gizmig3014d ago

I don't think so the point is we are mentioning just Apple here. The point is every company using this policy and we should focus on the main issue here.

sonicwrecks3010d ago

One of the main issues is the locations where the mining has to take place. The materials required are in quantity in areas with little regulation.

70°

15 Tips & Settings to Get the Most Out of Vision Pro

Vision Pro is here and it’s a surprisingly capable device. Apple has also loaded the headset with a ton of options and features that aren’t obvious at first glance.

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roadtovr.com
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Why the Apple Ring could be the missing piece of Apple's ecosystem

Ringing the changes: All the news, rumors, and tips you missed last week.

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macworld.com
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iPad Pro Dreams Come True with Jaw-Dropping Leaks

Apple is anticipated to announce the new OLED iPad Pro this spring. Although there has been considerable speculation about the product, it’s always reassuring when Apple officially confirms certain features through upcoming software updates.

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techacrobat.com
sonicwrecks57d ago

I've fixed the images on some of these past submissions of yours. Please in the future make sure the image isn't broken on submission.( I always found it best to download/upload it to be honest. )