Readers help support MSPoweruser. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 
Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more
An investigation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has implicated Apple in profiting from prisoner slave labour in China.
The allegation is that Apple’s suppliers, such asO-Film Technology Co., which makes camera modules for iPhone 8 and iPhone X, and BOE Technology Group, which supplies some OLED screen used by Apple, and AirPods supplier GoerTek, all use slave labour originating from China’s re-education camps. Foxconn also reportedly uses forced labour.
The report claims that 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019 and that while working in the factories the prisoners were subject to organized Mandarin and ideological training outside working hours, constant surveillance and are forbidden from participating in religious observances.
More than 80 other companies are implicated in the report’s findings, and the Washington Post has corroborated the report’s claims.
Apple has previously said that “we hold ourselves and our suppliers to the highest standards to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect”. ASPI’s report suggests Apple could do a lot better, however.
Via Macrumors.
As an expert deeply entrenched in the tech industry, I've delved into the intricate dynamics of supply chains, ethical practices, and corporate responsibility. The recent revelation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) implicating Apple in profiting from prisoner slave labor in China is indeed a concerning development that warrants attention.
The ASPI investigation points fingers at several of Apple's suppliers, including O-Film Technology Co., BOE Technology Group, and GoerTek, alleging the use of slave labor from China's re-education camps. Notably, O-Film Technology Co. manufactures camera modules for iPhone 8 and iPhone X, while BOE Technology Group supplies OLED screens for Apple products, and GoerTek is a supplier for AirPods.
The report goes further to assert that Foxconn, a prominent Apple manufacturing partner, is also involved in using forced labor. Shockingly, the investigation claims that around 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred from Xinjiang to various factories across China between 2017 and 2019. During their employment, these individuals were subjected to organized Mandarin and ideological training outside working hours, constant surveillance, and were forbidden from participating in religious observances.
The gravity of these allegations extends beyond Apple, with over 80 other companies implicated in the report's findings. The Washington Post has independently corroborated the claims made in the ASPI report, adding weight to the seriousness of the situation.
Apple, in response to such accusations, has previously asserted its commitment to high standards and ensuring the dignified and respectful treatment of everyone in its supply chain. However, the ASPI report challenges this stance, suggesting that Apple has room for improvement in ensuring ethical practices and humane treatment of workers within its supply network.
This revelation sheds light on the complex ethical considerations surrounding global supply chains and the responsibility that tech giants bear in ensuring that their products are not tainted by the use of forced labor. It underscores the need for greater transparency, accountability, and continuous scrutiny of corporate practices to uphold human rights and ethical standards in the ever-evolving landscape of technology manufacturing.
