Action Alert: Techsploitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

As a proxy war that has taken approximately 5.4 million lives (making it the deadliest since World War II) has recently escalated—a war that, at its roots, serves the interests of American and European tech corporations and one of Europe’s and the United States’ imperialistic puppets—rages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the guise of a Rwandan rebel uprising, I write this mostly to all who suffer from techsploitation in the Global South. The struggle of artists in the Global North, including artists from marginalized communities, against techsploitation is far from on par with the struggles and extreme suffering of those enduring and/or fighting techsploitation in the Global South. Most of us in the Global North have merely gotten a taste of what it is like to be robbed of the little we have. We’ve only gotten a taste of what it’s like to be exploited, disenfranchised, and ignored all in broad daylight by those in power even when the vast majority of people know our cause is just and express support for it. However terrible it is that artists are being exploited, it is nothing compared to what Big Tech is doing to those who are even less privileged and who have less of a voice to speak to those in power.

Yet the cause of artists who endure intellectual property theft to fuel generative AI is intertwined with the cause of innocent people in the Congo who are also the victims of not just one of the greatest historic wrongs committed by the US government under and, by many accounts, at the direction of one of Trump’s role models, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower; they are also victims of a modern-day massive property theft: land grabs and an illegal occupation by Rwanda and the M23 rebels it supports that has happened merely a month after the DRC sued Apple for using minerals obtained through conflict in the Congo. Surprisingly, despite this following a pattern in which countries in the Global South are magically invaded when their leaders stand up to Global North corporations, there doesn't seem to be any media coverage of whether there is a connection between the Congo's lawsuit against Apple and the subsequent invasion by Rwanda.

Note, too, that last last year, the EU signed a contract with Rwanda to provide minerals despite the fact that Rwanda is widely known to export more minerals than it actually mines. In essence, the EU encouraged Rwanda to acquire minerals illegally.

The Congolese (and Rwandans sent to fight in this proxy war) are literally losing their lives because the Congo has something the Global North needs and wants. Their and our struggle is intertwined, too, with innocent people in Gaza, whom Trump has recently threatened with a more brazen land grab.

I suspect more people everywhere will rise up to fight techsploitation in the next few years as more and more folks are impacted by it . . . even as it is sanctioned and encouraged at the highest levels of governments. I do not know that my writing makes any difference to those who suffer due to extreme techsploitation at this very moment in the Global South. Eventually, when people finally unite across the world, recognizing that the common source of our exploitation and suffering is an increasingly gluttonous and tiny upper class, we will prevail. The best I can hope for at this moment in this rigged game of survival against the most privileged and predatory among us is that those in worse circumstances may one day read this and feel seen.

How can you support the people of the Congo and fight techsploitation?

1. Our priority should be listening to what Congolese people say is happening in their own country and supporting both their advocacy and their demands for change, as well as purely humanitarian efforts.
2. Ironically, as with many issues, we must use the same tools that make us complicit in the techsploitation of people (including child laborers) in the Congo, in Gaza, and elsewhere to pressure tech companies like Apple, Dell, Google, Tesla, and Microsoft. We can support Congolese advocacy by sharing stories by Congolese activists on social media, with friends and family, and with elected officials.
3. Use your devices (and all of your material goods) for as long as possible. Avoid getting the newest/shiniest/trendiest device when what you have still works fine. This will reduce e-waste and make it more likely that you will be able to enact step 4.
4. There is a fledgling ethical tech industry that is emerging and producing devices like the Fairphone 5. Time will tell whether these products are significantly more conflict-free than current tech devices. As this industry emerges, however, rather than take business away from Congolese who depend on it for their survival—rather than inadvertently exacerbate the suffering of innocent Congolese—we should commit to seeking truly conflict-free options that still support and improve the lives of Congolese people, including miners, (and others currently suffering from techsploitation) when upgrading our devices.

And now some cause for joy in and hope for the Congo:

1. The Pulitzer Center has a great story about brave Congolese women who are leading peace efforts in their community.
2. Here’s one example of how making art (luxury embroidery) was bringing hope and employment to what is now a war-torn part of the Congo.
3. Here’s a great story about how, despite the challenges of life in the Congo, art (classical music) continues to thrive and grow in its capital, Kinshasa.

Consider how you can support such efforts, whether that's through spreading these joyful stories alongside Congo's more tragic ones or donating directly to support artists and/or social change work in the Congo.

*Updated on February 8, 2025