In 1991, 

Edizone Holding International, a Benetton subsidiary, bought Compañía de Tierras del

Sud Argentino S. A. and became the largest private landowner in Argentina after taking over the
land the company had inherited from the 19th century Conquest of the Desert.[31] Benetton has
faced criticism, particularly from Mapuche organizations, over its ownership and management of
traditional Mapuche lands in Patagonia.[32] In 1997, Benetton invested in a museum
in Leleque which presented the Mapuche as migrants from Chile, which was interpreted as an
attempt to diminish the Mapuche's traditional claims.[33] The Curiñanco-Nahuelquir family was
evicted from their land in 2002 following Benetton's claim to it, but the land was restored in 2007.
[34]
 The company published a position statement regarding the Mapuche in Patagonia in 2012.
[35]
 Protests and occupations began again in 2015. Activist Santiago Maldonado was last seen
being evicted by the Argentine National Gendarmerie from the disputed area in August 2017.
[36]
 His body was found two months later. [37]
Benetton aroused suspicion when they considered using RFID tracking chips on clothes to
monitor inventory. A boycott site alleges the tracking chips "can be read from a distance and used
to monitor the people wearing them." [38] Issues of consumer privacy were raised and the plan was
shelved. Benetton's position on RFID technology is also available on their website. [39]
PETA launched a boycott campaign against Benetton for buying wool from farmers who
practiced mulesing. Benetton has since agreed to buy nonmulesed wool and has further urged
the wool industry to adopt the PETA and Australian Wool Growers Association agreement to end
mulesing.[40] Benetton's position statement on the mulesing controversy is available on their
website.[41]
In 1991, Edizone Holding International, a Benetton subsidiary, bought Compañía de Tierras del
Sud Argentino S. A. and became the largest private landowner in Argentina after taking over the
land the company had inherited from the 19th century Conquest of the Desert.[31] Benetton has
faced criticism, particularly from Mapuche organizations, over its ownership and management of
traditional Mapuche lands in Patagonia.[32] In 1997, Benetton invested in a museum
in Leleque which presented the Mapuche as migrants from Chile, which was interpreted as an
attempt to diminish the Mapuche's traditional claims.[33] The Curiñanco-Nahuelquir family was
evicted from their land in 2002 following Benetton's claim to it, but the land was restored in 2007.
[34]
 The company published a position statement regarding the Mapuche in Patagonia in 2012.
[35]
 Protests and occupations began again in 2015. Activist Santiago Maldonado was last seen
being evicted by the Argentine National Gendarmerie from the disputed area in August 2017.
[36]
 His body was found two months later. [37]
Benetton aroused suspicion when they considered using RFID tracking chips on clothes to
monitor inventory. A boycott site alleges the tracking chips "can be read from a distance and used
to monitor the people wearing them." [38] Issues of consumer privacy were raised and the plan was
shelved. Benetton's position on RFID technology is also available on their website. [39]
PETA launched a boycott campaign against Benetton for buying wool from farmers who
practiced mulesing. Benetton has since agreed to buy nonmulesed wool and has further urged
the wool industry to adopt the PETA and Australian Wool Growers Association agreement to end
mulesing.[40] Benetton's position statement on the mulesing controversy is available on their
website.[41]