DIGITAL AGEISM AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE ELDERLY: CHALLENGES AND RESPONSES OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the phenomenon of digital ageism, a set of design practices, data, and management decisions that systematically worsen the situation of older users in the digital environment and transform the actual realizability of their civil rights. The aim of the work is to conceptualize digital ageism in relation to older age groups and to offer public authorities a set of managerial responses that allow them to combine the pace of digital transformation with the principles of equal access and non-discrimination. Methodologically, the research is based on an interdisciplinary approach: regulatory and legal analysis, case analysis of user routes in e-health, social security and administrative services, as well as a comparative review of policy instruments in different jurisdictions. A typology of digital ageism (direct, indirect, algorithmic) is proposed and describes four levels of its manifestation: infrastructural (communication, devices), competence (digital literacy and trust), design level (UX/accessibility, identification), algorithmic (biases in data and models). It is shown that the rights to equal access to public services, participation and representation, personal data protection and non-discrimination are most at risk. The novelty lies in the operationalization of the concept of "digital ageism" for the contours of state digitalization and in the integration of regulatory, organizational and technical measures into a single management framework.