Apple iPhone 16: Protests outside Apple Stores worldwide, several arrested
We join the debate as protests over the iPhone 16 demand accountability for exploitation in mineral mining.
Protests and boycotts surrounding the iPhone 16 launch have taken centre stage with thousands gathering outside Apple stores worldwide, from London to Tokyo.
Activists chant slogans like “A child died in Congo for your iPhone,” highlighting the exploitation linked to mining minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This episode explores how young consumers are pushing for change and accountability from Apple.
We’ll discuss the intersection of technology, human rights and the values driving today’s young generation.
As we unpack these protests, we challenge our audience to consider the ethical implications of their purchasing decisions and the role of corporations in global injustices.
Why are people boycotting Apple’s new iPhone 16
Apple iPhone 16 launch protests took place outside Apple Stores in over 12 cities across 10 countries including London, Tokyo, Brussels, Cape Town, Amsterdam, Mexico City and ManhattanThe protests were organised by current and former Apple employees.
They demanded, among other things, that no cobalt be sourced from regions such as the Congo, where human rights abuses are taking place.
Other minerals from the region used to make iPhones include gold, tantalum, tin and tungsten.
The protesters also criticised Apple’s silence on the Gaza war and its involvement in Israel, including the country’s second largest research and development centre.
The demonstrators also called for people to boycott Apple products and to unsubscribe from services such as iCloud, Apple TV+ and Apple Music.
Banners reading “Apple profits from genocide” and “A child died in Congo for your iPhone” were held aloft, and shouts of “From Congo to Palestine, apartheid is a crime” could be heard.
Apple says it does not source minerals from such critical areas and intends to use only recycled cobalt in its products by 2025:
Apple CEO Tim Cook
The company has excluded some suppliers in the past due to difficulties with some mines.
The protests were mainly organised by a group called “Apple Against Apartheid”, made up of current and former Apple employees, although the majority of protesters were not Apple employees.
The number of people taking part in the protests was relatively small, as shown in a video from the Oinat YouTube channel, taken outside an Apple store in London.
Most of the protesters were in Berlin, where (few) dozens of people gathered. Five protesters were arrested in the capital, according to Tariq Ra’Ouf, one of the main organisers.
In March, the group published a letter signed by around 300 former and current Apple employees, claiming that Apple would reprimand or fire its employees if they supported the Palestinian people by wearing pins or similar items.
In the past, Google employees have protested against Project Nimbus, a contract between Google and Amazon with the Israeli government to provide cloud computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) to the Israeli military, among other things. Amazon and Meta workers have also clashed with their employers over war-related issues.
