New Accessibility Act: Key Changes for E-shops and Digital Services
The European Union is introducing an accessibility law that will affect all e-shops with an annual turnover of over 2 million euros, as well as websites and mobile applications effective from June 28, 2025.
The European Union is introducing a new law that significantly improves the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities and older citizens. This step is not just a formal gesture but part of an ambitious effort towards digital equality, aiming to make the online world accessible to everyone. How will this affect digital providers and websites?
European Accessibility Act
The accessibility of digital services is crucial for everyone to fully utilize internet opportunities. Imagine a blind person wanting to purchase a travel ticket online – if the website is not optimized for screen readers, it becomes an almost impossible task. To prevent such obstacles, the European Union has approved the European Accessibility Act, which EU member states, including Slovakia, must implement into their legal regulations.
Who does the law apply to?
The law applies to a wide range of digital services, especially those falling under the category of information society services. This includes services provided online for a fee or free of charge related to e-commerce, commercial communication, or electronic transactions. The most important sectors affected by the law include:
This law applies to a wide range of digital services, primarily those falling under the category of information society services. It considers all services provided online – whether for a fee or not – related to e-commerce, commercial communication, and electronic transactions. The most significant sectors impacted by the law include:
- Personal transport services – such as online ticket sales or displaying transport information.
- Financial services – electronic banking and digital investment products.
- Online stores and reservation systems – enabling easy and quick access to products and services.
- Audio-visual and media services – online TV and streaming platforms.
- Electronic books and other digital products.
Exemptions from the law
Some businesses are exempt from the law. The law does not apply to:
- Micro-enterprises, which have fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than 2 million euros
- Websites and mobile applications, that were not created or funded by the service provider, or content published before the set deadlines in 2025.
When will the law come into effect?
The law will come into effect on June 28, 2025.
However, if someone enters into a service contract before this date, then this contract is governed by the old rules until its termination. No later than June 28, 2030.
Accessibility Standards: WCAG 2.1
Compliance with the WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standard is essential for digital services and websites. This standard specifies the criteria websites must meet at levels A and AA to ensure accessibility for all users. Key requirements include:
- Understandable and accessible content – to ensure the text is fully usable for screen readers.
- Sufficient color contrast – ensures that the text is readable and visually pleasing.
- Keyboard navigation – allows people with reduced motor skills to easily navigate the web.
Additionally, service providers are required to publish an accessibility statement on their websites. This statement clearly informs users about the extent to which the website meets accessibility rules, ensuring transparency in the availability of digital services.
Control and penalties
Compliance with accessibility will be monitored by the Slovak Trade Inspection, which can impose fines from €200 to €6000. In severe cases, the fine can reach up to €20,000, and if the provider does not cooperate during the inspection, they may face a fine of up to €30,000.
Why is accessibility important?
According to statistics from 2020, there are more than 337,000 people with disabilities in Slovakia. Worldwide, this number exceeds one billion people, and it is growing with the aging population in the EU. Accessible web and digital services allow these people to function better in the modern world and access services that many of us take for granted.
The new accessibility law is a key step towards making digital services more accessible to everyone. For online service providers, this means the need to adapt their websites and applications to meet the set accessibility standards. For companies providing digital services, it is not only a legal obligation but also an opportunity to show that they consider the needs of a wide range of users, including those with disabilities.
