Illegal cobalt mining in the Congo

Overview

Cobalt is a highly prized metal, especially for makers of smartphones and EVs. Almost 75% of global production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo - where there are also children toiling away in the mines. In protest, activists have repeatedly called for a boycott on cobalt from the DRC. To what extent is child labor a factor in cobalt production today, and what can consumers do to combat it? What about corporate responsibility? Are companies doing enough to ensure the cobalt they're using hasn't been mined by a child?