New Accessibility Act: Key Changes for Ecommerce stores and Digital Services
The European Union is introducing an accessibility law that will affect all ecommerce stores 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 the elderly. 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 the internet's possibilities. 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 and 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 – and related to e-commerce, commercial communication, and electronic transactions. The most significant sectors the law has a substantial impact on 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. But no later than June 28, 2030.
Accessibility Standards: WCAG 2.2
Compliance with the WCAG 2.2 (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 – so that 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.
In addition, 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.
Monitoring 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 2020 statistics, there are more than 337,000 people with disabilities in Slovakia. Worldwide, there are over a billion people, and this number 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.
Most common website features that conflict with accessibility
To truly serve everyone, implementing accessibility requires changes in some features that may be problematic for people with disabilities. Two of the most discussed obstacles are precisely those we encounter most often - working with passwords and CAPTCHA.
Passwords are often required in a format that includes a combination of uppercase, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, which can be challenging for certain groups of users. People with visual impairments have difficulty writing down such complex passwords, people with cognitive disorders have trouble remembering them, and older people may find such complex requirements too complicated. Solutions include simpler authentication methods, such as biometric verification or a one-time code sent via SMS or email.
Similarly, CAPTCHA, which serves to distinguish humans from automated bots, can be problematic. Image CAPTCHAs are not accessible to screen readers, and logical puzzles can be challenging for people with cognitive disorders. A more accessible alternative could be the honeypot technique, which involves adding a hidden field that only bots see and fill out, but the regular user does not see. This technique provides protection without requiring active user interaction.
How can I verify accessibility on my website?
To ensure compliance with the new EU regulation on the accessibility of digital services, it is essential to regularly test the accessibility of your websites and applications using automated tools and manual tests. This process not only avoids potential fines but also significantly improves the user experience for everyone, including users with limitations.
Examples of automated scanning tools:
- axe DevTools: This tool provides detailed accessibility reports and identifies common issues. It is also integrated into the Chrome browser.
- WAVE: Allows visual analysis of page accessibility and provides feedback on identified issues.
- Google Lighthouse: It is a technical auditor of websites that allows analyzing accessibility. It is free and has an open-source tool within DevTools. Its features include automated reports on page performance, search engine optimization, and accessibility reports.
Essential manual testing
Automated tools are useful, but they are not enough on their own. Manual testing using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, helps uncover issues that automated processes may overlook. This testing includes checking keyboard navigation, proper labeling of images and controls, and overall usability for people with various forms of disabilities.
What does a complete accessibility audit include?
1. Planning the audit
The audit begins with defining the scope, where important pages and features to be tested for accessibility are identified. This step is crucial to ensure the audit is targeted and covers all essential parts of the website or application.
2. Automated testing
Tools are used to quickly detect common issues that may affect the accessibility of the website. Automated testing is an efficient way to identify obvious shortcomings and get an overview of the accessibility status.
3. Manual testing
After automated testing, manual testing follows, where experts use assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to examine the actual user experience. This step helps uncover issues that automated tools may not capture.
4. Expert assessment
Accessibility experts conduct a detailed review of the website according to WCAG 2.2 criteria. Their assessment includes identifying issues and providing recommendations for improving accessibility.
5. Detailed report and audit
The audit output is a detailed report containing identified issues and specific recommendations for their resolution. The report provides a clear overview of which areas need to be adjusted and how to achieve compliance with accessibility standards.
If you don't know where to start with accessibility testing, do not hesitate to contact us and we at ui42 will be happy to help you.
