Major credit card companies announced this week that they will adopt a new code to flag gun sales. While gun control advocates are celebrating, Shobita Parthasarathy, director of the Science, Technology and Public Policy program, warns the policy could have chilling effects.
"The combination of law enforcement with wide-ranging surveillance over purchase histories teeters on 'terrifying and potentially dystopian,' said Shobita Parthasarathy," NPR wrote. "Parthasarathy also suggested the measure could have the unintended consequence of driving people to use cash or multiple credit cards, thereby making gun purchases more difficult to track."