(Telecompaper) US human rights group IRAdvocates has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Alphabet, Apple, Dell, Microsoft and Tesla on grounds of "knowingly benefiting from and aiding and abetting the cruel and brutal use of young children in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to mine cobalt," a key component of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court in Washington District of Columbia on behalf of 14 unnamed plaintiffs who are either guardians of children killed or maimed in tunnel or wall collapses while mining cobalt in the DRC or children maimed in the accidents.