Web Accessibility Laws & Policies
This page lists governmental policies related to web accessibility, although it is not a comprehensive or definitive listing.
The information on this page is not legal advice. Please consult legal authorities for the appropriate jurisdiction. W3C cannot guarantee the accessibility of these external resources.
For guidance on developing an accessibility policy for an organization, see Developing Organizational Policies on Web Accessibility.
Terms used on this page
- Law – A law has completed the legislation process, and is put into effect as the law of the land.
- Policy – Outlines the goals of a government ministry or agency as well as the methods and principles to achieve those goals. Policies are not laws, but can lead to the development of laws.
- Public sector – Includes government and government-run or owned entities, and entities that receive government funding.
- Private sector – Businesses and organizations that are not part of the public sector, including non-profit organizations.
- WCAG derivative - Used when a standard is based on a version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), but some requirements were excluded or modified or additional non-WCAG requirements were added.
- Procurement law - A law that requires government purchase of accessible goods and services.
- Procurement recommendation - An optional, but encouraged goal to purchase accessible goods and services.
- Mandatory policy - Required accessibility goals or implementation that is not regulated by law.
Law and Policy Overview Table
| Country / Region | Name | Date Enacted | Type (policy, law, legislation, etc.) | Scope | Web Only | WCAG Version Based On |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Åland | Landskapslag (2019: 7) om tillgängliga webbplerer and mobile application inom förvaltningen | 2019 | Accessibility law | Yes | None | |
| Argentina | Ley N° 26.653 de “Accesibilidad Web” | 2010-11-26 | Non-discrimination law | Yes | WCAG 2.0 | |
| Argentina | Accesibilidad de la Información en las Páginas Web | 2010 | Procurement law | Yes | WCAG 2.0 | |
| Australia | Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) | 1992 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Australia | Procurement Standard Guidance | 2016 | Procurement recommendation | Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Austria (Österreich) | Federal law on barrier-free access to federal websites and mobile applications | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Austria (Österreich) | Federal law on barrier-free access to federal websites and mobile applications | 2017 | Non-discrimination law | Government | No | None |
| Belgium (België, Belgique, Belgien) | Law regarding the accessibility of websites and mobile applications for public bodies | 2018 | Accessibility law | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.1 |
| Brazil | Brazilian Law of inclusion for the Persons with Disabilities | 2015 | Mandatory policy | No | none | |
| Brazil | eMAG - e-government accessibility model | 2014 | Non-discrimination law, Mandatory policy | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate | |
| Canada | The Accessible Canada Act (The Act to Ensure a Barrier Free Canada) | 2019 | law, Non-discrimination law, Procurement law, | Government and all federally regulated agencies | Yes | WCAG 2.0 AA |
| China (中国) | Law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities 1990, as amended | 2008 | Accessibility law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| China (中国) | Voluntary Web Accessibility Standard | 2008 | Recommendation | Government | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Colombia | Web accessibility guidelines | 2020 | Accessibility law | Yes | WCAG 2.1 | |
| Croatia (Hrvatska) | Law on accessibility of websites and software solutions for mobile devices of public sector bodies | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία, Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti) | The Accessibility of Public Sector Organizations Websites and Mobile Applications Act 2019. | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 |
| Czech Republic (Česká republika) | Act No. 99/2019 Coll., on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications and on the amendment of Act No. 365/2000 Coll., on public administration information systems and on the amendment of certain other laws | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Denmark (Danmark) | Agreement on the use of open standards for software in the public sector | 2007 | Mandatory policy | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 |
| Denmark (Danmark) | Web Accessibility Act | 2018 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | Other |
| Denmark (Danmark) | Executive Order no. 904 for the declaration of accessibility | 2018 | Mandatory policy | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.1 |
| Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) | Veebilehe ja mobiilirakenduse ligipääsetavuse nõuded ning ligipääsetavust kirjeldava teabe avaldamise kord | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Estonia (Eesti Vabariik) | Public Information Act | 2001 | Mandatory policy | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| European Union | Web and Mobile Accessibility Directive (2016/2102) | 2016 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| European Union | European Accessibility Act | 2019-06-27 | Law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Finland (Suomi) | Act on Electronic Services and Communication in the Public Sector | 2003 | Accessibility law | Government | No | None |
| Finland (Suomi) | Digital Services Act | 2019 | Accessibility law | Yes | WCAG 2.1 | |
| France (La France) | Law N° 2005-102 Article 47 | 2005 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | None |
| France (La France) | Order of 29 April 2015 on the general accessibility framework for public administrations | 2015 | Accessibility law | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| France (La France) | Law N° 2016-1321 Article 106 | 2016 | Digital Governance law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| France (La France) | Decree No 2019-768 | 2019 | Accessibility law | Public sector, Government | Yes | WCAG 2 derivative |
| Germany (Deutschland) | Act on Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons of 2002 | 2002 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Germany (Deutschland) | Federal Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology | 2011 | Accessibility policy | Government | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Greece (Ελλάδα) | Digital Governance (Incorporation into Greek Legislation of Directive (EU) 2016/2102 | 2020 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China | Guidelines on Dissemination of Information through Government Websites | 1999 | Mandatory policy | Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Hungary (Magyarország) | Act on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public sector organizations | 2018 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | None |
| India | Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPD) | 2016 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| India | Guidelines for Indian Government Websites | 2009 | Mandatory policy | Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Ireland (Éireann) | The Disability Act, 2005 | 2005 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | None |
| Ireland (Éireann) | Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 | 2004 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Ireland (Éireann) | Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004 | 2004 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Ireland (Éireann) | S.I. No. 358/2020 European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020 | 2020 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | WCAG 2.1 |
| Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל) | Equal Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, as amended | 1998 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Italy (Italia) | Law 9 January 2004, n. 4 "Provisions to support the access of disabled people to IT tools" (Stanca Law) | 2004 | Accessibility law | Public sector, Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Italy (Italia) | Law 10 August 2018, n. 106 "Reform of the implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/2102 on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public bodies" | 2004 | Accessibility law | Public sector, Government | No | WCAG 2 derivative |
| Japan (日本) | Everyone’s Public Website Operational Guidelines (2016) | 2016-04-20 | Procurement recommendation | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Latvia (Latvija) | Procedure in which institutions post information on the Internet | 2020 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Lithuania (Lietuva) | Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the right to receive information from state and municipal institutions and bodies no. VIII-1524 (Summary version) | 2000 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Lithuania (Lietuva) | Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the right to receive information from state and municipal institutions and bodies no. VIII-1524 Amendment of Articles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 22 and Appendix Law No. XIII-1590 | 2018 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Lithuania (Lietuva) | Due to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in 2003 April 18 resolution no. 480 of the amendment "On the approval of the description of the general requirements for the websites of state and municipal institutions and bodies" | 2018 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Luxembourg (Luxembourg, Luxemburg, Lëtzebuerg) | Loi du 28 mai 2019 relative à l’accessibilité des sites internet et des applications mobiles des organismes du secteur public. | 2019 | Accessibility law | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta) | Accessibility of the Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies Regulations | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Netherlands (Nederland) | Procurement Law 2012 | 2016 | Procurement law | Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Netherlands (Nederland) | Policy in the Netherlands | 2016 | Mandatory policy | Government, Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 |
| Netherlands (Nederland) | Article 429q of the Penal Code | 2016 | Non-discrimination law | Government, Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Netherlands (Nederland) | Equal Treatment Act Based on Disability or Chronic Illness | 2003, altered in 2016 | Non-discrimination law | Government, Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Netherlands (Nederland) | Temporary decree on digital accessibility of the government | 2018 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.1 |
| New Zealand | Human Rights Act 1993, including amendments | 1993 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| New Zealand | Online Practice Guidelines | 2013 | Mandatory policy | Government | Yes | WCAG 2.0 |
| Norway (Norge, Noreg) | Regulations on universal design of ICT | 2013 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Norway (Norge, Noreg) | WAD addition to regulations on universal design of information and communication technology (ICT) solutions | 2022 | Non-discrimination law | Government, Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2 derivative |
| Poland (Rzeczpospolita Polska) | Act of 4 April 2019 on the digital accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public entities | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Portugal | Decreto-Lei n.º 83/2018 de 19 de outubro - Define os requisitos de acessibilidade dos sítios web e das aplicações móveis de organismos públicos, transpondo a Diretiva (UE) 2016/2102 | 2018 | Accessibility law | Yes | None | |
| Republic of Korea (대한민국) | Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities | 2008 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Romania (România) | Emergency ordinance no. 112/2018 regarding the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies | 2018 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | WCAG 2.0 derivate |
| Russia (Росси́я) | ГОСТ Р 52872-2012 Интернет-ресурсы. Требования доступности для инвалидов по зрению | 2014 | Voluntary standard | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivate | |
| Slovenia (Slovenija) | Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications Act | 2018 | Accessibility law | Public sector | No | WCAG 2.1 |
| Spain (España) | Royal Decree 1112/2018, of September 7, on accessibility of websites and applications for mobile devices in the public sector. | 2008 | Accessibility policy law, Non-discrimination law, Accessibility law, Accessibility policy | Public sector | No | None |
| Spain (España) | Guidance on software accessibility | 2009 | Accessibility policy law, Non-discrimination law, Accessibility law, Accessibility policy | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Spain (España) | Web content accessibility requirements. | 2012 | Accessibility policy | Public sector, Private sector | Yes | WCAG 2.0 derivative |
| Sweden (Sverige) | Discrimination Act (2008:567) | 2008 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| Sweden (Sverige) | Act (2018:1937) on accessibility to digital public services | 2019 | Accessibility law | Government, Public sector | No | None |
| Switzerland (Suisse, Schweiz, Svizzera) | Federal Law on the Elimination of Inequalities for Persons with Disabilities, as amended | 2002 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| Taiwan (中華民國) | Web Accessibility Guidelines (110.07) | 2021 | Mandatory policy | Public sector | Yes | WCAG 2.1 derivative |
| United Kingdom | Equality Act 2010 | 2010 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| United States | Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended | 1998 | Procurement law, Accessibility law | Government | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| United States | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended | 2009 | Non-discrimination law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| United States | Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 | 1996 | Accessibility law | Public sector, Private sector | No | None |
| United States | Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 | 2013 | Non-discrimination law | Private sector | No | WCAG 2.0 |
| United States | 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) | 2010 | Accessibility law | Private sector | No | None |