Hacked data reveals Traxys’ shady dealings

While the usefulness of cell phones is beyond reproach, the price paid by some individuals for you to own and use your cell may be beyond your wildest imagination.

After solemnly pledging to refrain from dealing with “conflict minerals” from the troubled Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium-based American company Traxys has been exposed by a consortium of hackers known as ‘Anonymous Hacking Collective’ to have in reality continued these dealings.

The ‘hacktivists’ gained access to the email account of Traxys, a firm that offers logistical and financial services to the mining and energy industries, and exposed a series of emails that provide proof of the company’s continued sourcing of minerals from the DRC, despite publicly declaring earlier this year to stop purchasing minerals from war zones.

The hacked emails showed individuals, presumed to be dealers, letting Traxys know about their possession of shipments of Lead Ore, Casiterite and Coltan, which are all used in the production of video games, laptops and primarily cell phones.

Traxys was in December 2008 implicated by UN investigators in the alleged purchase of materials from militia groups in the DRC, notably the FDLR, which is composed of elements blamed for the 1994 genocide committed against the Tutsi.

The company hastened to announce the ceasing of all operations in the DRC as part of efforts to comply with the Consumer Protection Act, which adopted new rules for the use of “conflict minerals” originating in the DR Congo.

Computer Hacking can be broadly defined as intentionally accessing a computer without authorization or exceeding authorized access to certain documents and information.

Major computer and electronics firms such as Apple, Intel, IBM, Nokia, Motorola and Samsung have in the past been accused of indirectly causing the DRC war which ran from 1998 to 2003 because of their use of coltan, or colombo-tantalite, in the production of mobile phones, video games, computers and home electronics.

Some aid organizations estimate that over five million people have died in the area since 1998.

Human rights groups such as Raid, the Rainforest Foundation and Global Witness have launched the “No blood on my cell phone” campaign in Europe to lobby for an embargo on so-called “blood tantalum”.