As Apple Launches Its New Phone, Protesters Call for Boycott: Accusing the Company of Complicity in Congolese Conflict and Gaza War

As Apple Launches Its New Phone, Protesters Call for Boycott: Accusing the Company of Complicity in Congolese Conflict and Gaza WarAs the iPhone 16 was launched in dozens of cities in the US and around the world, protesters took advantage of the publicity to call for a boycott of Apple products. The demonstrators, including current and former Apple employees, accused the company of remaining silent on the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the conflict between Israel and Gaza, claiming their complicity in the crises in both regions

As Apple Launches Its New Phone, Protesters Call for Boycott: Accusing the Company of Complicity in Congolese Conflict and Gaza War

As the iPhone 16 was launched in dozens of cities in the US and around the world, protesters took advantage of the publicity to call for a boycott of Apple products. The demonstrators, including current and former Apple employees, accused the company of remaining silent on the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the conflict between Israel and Gaza, claiming their complicity in the crises in both regions.

Apple is complicit in genocide in Congo and Palestine, one protester named Lucy told the Bristol Post news website. They accused Apple of sourcing gold and minerals such as tantalum, tin, and tungsten from Congo, which are used to manufacture iPhones. Despite Apples 2019 announcement to stop working with certain smelting and refining facilities in Congo, international organizations have pointed out that the company still receives raw materials and finished goods from other suppliers.

Lucy explained that in Congo, militias backed by Uganda and Rwanda steal coltan, kill and rape people, and enslave men, women, and children to mine coltan under dangerous conditions. Apple buys this coltan. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been engulfed in armed conflict with Rwandan-backed rebels since the 1990s, and Apple sources materials for iPhones and other products from this war-torn country.

Another protester, named Soraya, highlighted Apple's silence on the Gaza war, despite appeals from some of the company's own employees for action. Soraya emphasized that in October 2023, Apple CEO Tim Cook had expressed "concern for those impacted" but had made no further comments since then. More unsettling was Apple's brief suspension of Slack channels used by Jewish and Muslim employees, respectively, in November 2023. Protesters subsequently claimed that Apple effectively shut down the Slack channel used by Muslim employees. In April 2024, an AppleStore in the Chicago area reportedly fired an employee for wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian garment, leading to protests in front of the Lincoln Park AppleStore in Chicago, organized by a group calling itself "Apples4Ceasefire."

During the iPhone 16 launch, protesters outside AppleStores called on consumers to boycott Apple products and cancel subscriptions to services like iCloud+ and Apple Music in protest. They believe that Apple needs to be held accountable for what has happened in Congo and Palestine and take action to address these issues.

This protest reflects a growing concern about the social responsibility and ethical conduct of tech giants. As one of the most influential corporations globally, Apple's actions and decisions will have a profound impact on the world. Protesters hope that by boycotting Apple products, they can force the company to take responsibility for its social obligations and reflect on and change its behavior related to its involvement in humanitarian crises.