The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has initiated legal proceedings against Apple, alleging the company's subsidiaries are involved in the use of conflict minerals, specifically 'blood minerals,' in their products. An investigating magistrate in Belgium has been assigned to oversee the case, which was officially opened in December 2024. In addition to this, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple concerning the use of toxic chemicals in Apple Watch bands, specifically fluoroelastomer, with claims that the company has not disclosed the dangers associated with these materials. These developments highlight ongoing concerns regarding ethical sourcing and environmental practices in the tech industry.