A prominent organization representing senior citizens in Germany is advocating for the legal recognition of a “right to analog living”. The Senioren-Union, an associated organization of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is urging the party and its parliamentary group to champion policies ensuring essential services remain accessible to individuals without internet access.
Several motions addressing this concern are slated for discussion at the Senioren-Union’s federal delegate assembly, which commences Thursday in Magdeburg.
Helge Benda, interim federal chairman of the Senioren-Union, explained to the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that many seniors grew up in a primarily non-digital world. While acknowledging their willingness to utilize digital technologies, he asserted that these technologies do not define their daily lives.
The organization argues that core aspects of everyday life – including banking, shopping and purchasing public transportation tickets – must continue to be available through traditional, non-digital means. Benda emphasized that maintaining this accessibility is critical for upholding personal autonomy and dignity in later life. The Senioren-Union believes guaranteeing access to these services regardless of digital proficiency is an important consideration for an aging population.
