Digital Accessibility: Global Laws, Regulations, and Standards
Digital accessibility today is far more than a technical recommendation – it is a legal requirement worldwide. Depending on the markets your business operates in or the target groups you serve, different national and international regulations apply. To help you stay on top of things, we have summarized the most important regulations for Europe, North America, and the global market. Find out here which standards are relevant for your website.
Europe and Germany (The Basis for 2026)
EAA – European Accessibility Act
Directive (EU) 2019/882 sets the European framework for accessibility. The EAA harmonizes requirements across the EU and ensures that key products and services – from banking to e-commerce – are accessible to all citizens. It serves as the parent directive of Germany’s BFSG. Learn more
BFSG – Barrier-Free Information Technology Act (Germany)
The BFSG is Germany’s implementation of the EAA. Since June 28, 2025, private businesses in Germany must ensure that their digital offerings are accessible. This particularly affects online shops and service portals in the B2C sector. Learn more
BGG – Disability Equality Act (Germany)
The BGG is the fundamental German law for the equality of persons with disabilities. It forms the legal basis for accessibility in public spaces and digital federal administration (implemented through BITV 2.0). Learn more
BehiG – Disability Equality Act (Switzerland)
In Switzerland, the BehiG ensures that people with disabilities are not discriminated against. For websites, this means that government services and increasingly private providers must be accessible, with Switzerland aligning closely to international standards. Learn more
Equality Act 2010 (UK)
The Equality Act 2010 is the main anti-discrimination law in the United Kingdom. It requires organizations and companies to make “reasonable adjustments” to ensure that people with disabilities are not disadvantaged when accessing information or services. Learn more
North America and Oceania (International Market)
ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act (USA)
The ADA is the most comprehensive accessibility law in the U.S. Title III of the ADA is increasingly interpreted by U.S. courts to include commercial websites as “public places,” requiring them to be accessible to avoid discrimination. Learn more
Section 508 – Rehabilitation Act (USA)
Section 508 requires U.S. federal agencies to make their information and communication technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. It is the key standard for any company that wants to supply products or services to U.S. federal agencies. Learn more
Section 255 (USA)
Section 255 of the Communications Act focuses specifically on telecommunications devices and services. It ensures that telephony, video calling, and voicemail services are designed to be usable by people with a wide range of disabilities. Learn more
AODA – Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (Canada)
The AODA is one of Canada’s most advanced accessibility laws. It requires organizations in Ontario (above a certain size) to make their websites accessible according to WCAG standards. Violations can result in significant daily fines. Learn more
DDA – Disability Discrimination Act (Australia / Canada)
In Australia (and similarly under Canada’s ACA), the DDA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in accessing goods and services. This explicitly includes digital access to websites and online services. Learn more
Technical Standards and Global Norms
WCAG – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
WCAG forms the technical foundation of all the above laws. They define worldwide what “accessible” means on the web. Almost all national laws reference WCAG success criteria as the benchmark for legal compliance. Learn more
EN 301 549 – European Standard
EN 301 549 is the European standard for digital accessibility. It harmonizes requirements for websites, apps, and software within the EU and serves as a technical guideline for compliance with the EAA and BFSG. Learn more
ISO 30071-1 – International Code of Practice
ISO 30071-1 is a process-oriented standard. It describes how organizations can embed accessibility permanently into their workflows and ICT product development to ensure long-term inclusion. Learn more
ARIA – Accessible Rich Internet Applications
ARIA (or WAI-ARIA) is not a law but a technical standard by the W3C. It provides a set of attributes that can be added to complex web content and applications to significantly improve accessibility for screen reader users. Learn more