WASHINGTON, DC—Today, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond released the following statement on employment discrimination in the digital era:

“AARP has fought discrimination in all its forms for the past six decades.  But it appears age discrimination is alive and well in the digital era, as social media sites are now said to be enabling employers to discriminate against older applicants.  This would mean the methods of discrimination have changed and its tools now include algorithms, dropdown boxes and pattern recognition—but those are tools that can help older Americans rather than deny opportunity.  When it comes to job recruitment, AARP believes all Americans deserve a level playing field, and we want to work with all those who share our commitment.

“AARP will act to protect our members and all older workers.  We are pro-tech but anti-bias.  We urge online platforms to take the steps needed to ensure they’re not supporting age-biased recruiting and hiring practices.  And we continue to call on all employers to end bias in their employment practices.  Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) 50 years ago, but the law has been eroded and technological advancements require new attention.  Therefore, we urge this Congress to pass the bipartisan federal Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) to keep our age-discrimination laws current.”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.