According to a report from Reuters, Discover Card will allow its network to track purchases at gun retailers starting next month —a move the company says will help authorities fight gun crime.
From Reuters:
Discover’s announcement came after the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which decides on the classification of merchant categories used by payment cards, approved in September the launch of a dedicated code for gun retailers.
Proponents of the move, including gun control activists and Democratic politicians, say it will allow financial institutions to better assist authorities in investigating crimes involving gun violence in the United States.
While the codes will not show specific items purchased, some Republican politicians have spoken out against the move, arguing it could violate the privacy of U.S. citizens lawfully buying guns.
“We remain focused on continuing to protect and support lawful purchases on our network while protecting the privacy of cardholders,” Discover said in its statement to Reuters.
More over at Reuters:
Exclusive: Discover to enable tracking of purchases at gun retailers from April https://t.co/2PZ69d1Jzr pic.twitter.com/Z6G9KJxABm
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 18, 2023