"Samsung could end up in French court over ethics pledges: NGOs", 3 July 2019

Samsung Electronics could end up in the dock...for not abiding by its own ethics pledges...two NGOs said on Wednesday.

...A complaint filed against the French subsidiary of the smartphone giant by activist groups Sherpa and ActionAid France – Peuples Solidaires, has led an investigating magistrate in Paris to filing preliminary charges...

...Accused by various NGOs of violating human rights at some of its factories...the two French pressure groups said the actions amount to a breach of the pledges that Samsung makes on its website...

...“This is the first time in France that it was recognised that corporate ethics pledges may be considered marketing practices that are binding on a firm,” the activist groups said in a statement.

...The NGOs originally filed their complaint a year ago, but the investigating magistrate in Paris has now decided to pursue the case after quizzing an executive of Samsung France, the statement said...

...The plaintiffs argue that because the ethics pledges are easily readable on Samsung’s website by French consumers, the French judiciary is competent to handle the case and issue a ruling...