Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Lawsuit by American Metal
American Metal sued TMC, alleging unlawful intimidation related to competing proposals for mining in the Clarion–Clipperton Zone. The allegations are disputed or unresolved in the supplied material.
2025
Reported ecological effects of mining-vehicle test
A study funded by TMC reported that one month after a mining test, animal abundance in the affected area had declined by 37% and the number of species by 32%. The findings intensified scrutiny of the company’s environmental claims and of the effects of collector vehicles.
2024
Television scrutiny of TMC and its relationship with Nauru
An episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver criticized the economics and environmental risks of deep-sea mining and examined the power imbalance between TMC and Nauru. A Breakthrough Institute response disputed some environmental claims while acknowledging concerns about the relationship with developing countries.