The new law on accessibility of selected products and services puts accessibility at the centre of the digital strategy of companies that provide services to consumers through web portals, e-shops or mobile applications. And it’s not just about development in the narrowly understood IT sense. The law also affects the process, marketing and design approach to digital products. Companies offering, for example, online banking, e-commerce portals, booking systems, multimedia content or online customer support will have to ensure that their interfaces can be used without complications by people with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments.
Who is covered, who is exempt and what WCAG 2.1 AA means
The new legislative framework covers a wide range of products and services, including in the digital sphere. If you do business in the areas listed below, the law is likely to apply to you:
- operators of e-shops and online marketplaces,
- providers of online banking and online payment services,
- companies developing or operating mobile applications for end users,
- telecommunications companies (especially customer interfaces),
- operators of self-service terminals such as ATMs or checkout kiosks,
- distributors of e-books and e-book reading devices,
- providers of audiovisual content (e.g. streaming platforms),
- manufacturers and importers of consumer electronics – in particular devices that interact with the user via a display or control interface.
In particular, interfaces for information, online communication, shopping, reservation systems and customer portals are considered services as defined by the Act. Therefore, if you are in the business of digital products and target the end consumer, it is advisable to evaluate the whole issue carefully.
On the other hand, exceptions to the legal obligations are micro-businesses, i.e. companies with less than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of up to €2 million. Furthermore, the law does not apply to pure B2B services or internal business systems that are not aimed at the end user. Also exempted are those operators for whom ensuring accessibility would impose an unreasonable burden, for example due to technical impossibility or extreme costs – in such cases, however, they must be able to demonstrate and justify this fact.
From the perspective of the development community and digital solutions providers, of which Railsformers has long been one, this is a fundamental change in the baseline conditions for the design and implementation of web and mobile applications. The standards known as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) version 2.1 at AA level are becoming the fundamental framework for digital design. For businesses, this means ensuring sufficient color contrast, keyboard-controllable interfaces, text alternatives to graphical content, accessible forms, or making content readable without time limitations.
From the perspective of the development community and digital solutions providers, of which Railsformers has long been one, this is a fundamental change in the baseline conditions for designing and implementing web and mobile applications. The standards known as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) version 2.1, at level AA, are becoming the baseline. For businesses, this means ensuring sufficient colour contrast on the web, keyboard-only operability, text alternatives to graphical content, accessible forms or ensuring readability without time limitations.
We recommend that you start reviewing your digital products as soon as possible. Dedicated technical accessibility audits and subsequent implementation of recommended measures are a good starting point. Working with partners who have experience not only in development, but also in the legislative and normative framework for accessibility can significantly speed up the process.
In conclusion, it is important to recognise that the Act brings more than just regulation – it is an opportunity for businesses to create digital products that are more effective, usable and open to a wider target audience. At Railsformers, we offer strategic advice, technical analysis, WCAG-compliant design approaches and long-term development of accessible digital solutions. A legal obligation can be seen as a challenge, but with the right expertise it turns into an investment in the quality and sustainability of digital development.