The crisis of child labor in the cobalt mines of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a deep and painful reality, revealing the darker side of global tech production. - Scale of the Issue: The DRC is at the heart of the world’s cobalt supply, producing about 75% of this critical mineral, essential for the batteries in smartphones and electric vehicles. Thousands of children are believed to work in dangerous conditions in artisanal mines, risking their lives to fuel the global tech industry.