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 advisor, noted.

According to the report, smuggled “conflict coltan” originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has infiltrated international supply chains and may have reached products associated with major technology companies, including NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT).

Despite years of investment programs to prevent illicit mineral extraction, research suggests that conflict-linked resources still flow into the global supply chain.

Tracking the Flows

The main region of interest is the North Kivu province. The area supplies ...