Conflict Minerals Are Allegedly Reaching NVIDIA, Microsoft Supply Chains: Report

Coltan is one of those minerals that nobody knows, yet everybody needs. When processed, it creates tantalum – the metallic element vital for capacitors found in all sorts of advanced computing equipment. Anything from large data centers to household gadgets relies on a steady supply of this obscure metal. Yet, its supply chain is anything but transparent. A year-long investigation by the non-governmental organization Global Witness now alleges that the systems designed to ensure ethical sourcing have broken down. “Behind our everyday tech lies a supply chain tainted by violence, exploitation, and human suffering,” Alex Kopp, senior policy and advocacy…