The deaths of children mining for cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the subject of a 2019 lawsuit brought against companies such as Apple, Tesla, and Google by Congolese families who argued that their children were killed or maimed while mining for cobalt used to power smartphones, laptops and electric cars. The lawsuit, which was the result of field research conducted by anti-slavery economist Siddharth Kara, accused the companies of aiding and abetting in the death and serious injury of children working in cobalt mines in their supply chain. The families argued in the claim that their children were working illegally at mines owned by UK mining company Glencore. The court papers alleged that cobalt from the Glencore-owned mines is sold to Umicore, a Brussels-based metal and mining trader, which then sells battery-grade cobalt to Apple, Google, Tesla, Microsoft and Dell. The families and injured children sought damages for Forced Labour and further compensation for unjust enrichment, negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress.