Weird that you make up your own source and counter it as if the person you were replying to had used it, then go on about how they use sleazy debating tactics. I think there's a proverb about a kettle that might apply.

Here

https://www.freetheslaves.net/where-we-work/congo/

and here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_trafficking_in_the_Democ...

Both talk about people being forced to mine. Not they're poor and need to eat. Debt bondage, bogus criminal charges then sent to the mines to work as prisoners, or just straight up forced to at gun point by militias/gangs. You know, actual forced labour.

Thanks for those sources. Yep, those examples are more in par with the case at hand. To answer the original post then, education is key: "knowledge is power, power is responsibility".

The issue here is that Apple is employing tactics with lobbying, PR, marketing (sort of brainwashing) to make you "try not to think about it too much", so yeah it is "no wonder people pick door number 3". The hypocrisy that fuels the hype and demand for its brand is what consumers should be aware of.

As austhrow alluded to, I was indeed alluding to actual forced/child labor in the DR Congo.

I would invite you to peruse my comment history (perhaps via the search functionality) if you really think I’m a shill for either Apple or the CCP. I would be even more outspoken about the issue were it not for the often-aggressive moderation of “nationalistic flame war” that I’ve seen on HN. But the truth is that none of our hands are clean given the complexity of global supply chains, the resource curse, and the apathetic attitude of the developed world towards human rights issues in general.

You linked to Google instead of the guardian.