Website Accessibility Laws by Country [2025]: A Global Compliance Guide

Last Updated: November 2025

In 2024, nearly 4,000 federal lawsuits were filed against U.S. companies for web accessibility violations. By mid-2025, that number had already reached 2,000. Globally, organizations face an increasingly complex web of accessibility regulations that carry significant legal and financial consequences for non-compliance.

Whether you operate in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, or Asia, understanding your legal obligations around web accessibility is no longer optional—it's critical to your business survival. This comprehensive guide walks through the specific laws, standards, penalties, and enforcement actions across major jurisdictions in 2025.

DISCLAIMER: This article is educational content and should not be considered legal advice. Accessibility laws are complex and jurisdiction-specific. Consult with a legal professional in your jurisdiction to understand your specific obligations and compliance requirements.

The Global Accessibility Landscape: Key Statistics

Before diving into specific countries, consider these sobering facts:

• 96% of websites are non-compliant with accessibility standards, despite increasing legal enforcement
• 2,019 web accessibility lawsuits were filed in the first half of 2025 in the U.S. alone
• Ecommerce represents 77% of all accessibility lawsuits—the highest target industry
• 1 in 4 lawsuits involves repeat defendants, meaning companies that didn't fix issues the first time
• EN 301 549 (EU standard) conformity rate: only 3.7% of organizations were fully prepared as of mid-2025

The message is clear: accessibility is both a moral imperative and a legal necessity.

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United States: The ADA & Section 508

Legal Framework

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the primary federal legislation governing web accessibility in the United States. While the ADA was enacted in 1990, its application to digital properties has evolved significantly:

Title II applies to state and local governments. Title II applies to any website or mobile app operated by a public sector entity.

Title III applies to private businesses and nonprofits that offer goods or services to the public—a broad category that includes most websites.

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act applies specifically to federal agencies and their contractors, requiring compliance with specific IT accessibility standards.

2025 Compliance Requirements

For State & Local Governments (Title II): On April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice published a final rule with specific deadlines:

• Public agencies serving 50,000+ people: WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance by April 24, 2026
• Public agencies serving 50,000 or fewer people: WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance by April 24, 2027

For Private Businesses (Title III): There is no federal deadline explicitly mandating WCAG compliance for private websites. However, 100% of Title III web accessibility lawsuits cite WCAG failures, making WCAG 2.1 Level AA the de facto standard.

Standards Required

WCAG 2.1 Level AA is the universally recognized standard courts use to evaluate accessibility compliance. Organizations must ensure:

• Keyboard navigation for all functions
• Text alternatives for images and videos
• Proper color contrast (4.5:1 minimum for text)
• Captions and transcripts for audio/video content
• Clear, descriptive link text (no "click here" links)
• Mobile app accessibility
• Keyboard-accessible forms

Penalties & Enforcement Actions

Civil Damages:

• First violation: $55,000-$75,000 in civil penalties
• Subsequent violations: $110,000-$150,000 per violation
• These penalties are in addition to damages owed to the plaintiff

Litigation Costs:

• Attorney's fees (often $10,000-$50,000+ per case)
• Settlement payments (ranging from $5,000-$100,000+)
• Mandatory remediation timelines (typically 30-60 days to fix critical issues)

2024-2025 Lawsuit Statistics:

• 4,187 digital accessibility lawsuits filed in 2024
• 2,019 lawsuits filed in first half of 2025 (tracking toward 4,975 total)
• 77% targeted ecommerce companies
• 40% of lawsuits involved repeat defendants
• Top jurisdictions: New York (50%+ of state cases), California (3,252 Title III filings)

Recent Notable Cases & Settlements

Sweetgreen (January 2024): The quick-casual restaurant chain was sued under both the ADA and New York Human Rights Law for website and app accessibility barriers.

accessiBe FTC Settlement (2024): $1 million settlement for deceptive marketing practices—a landmark case showing that accessibility widgets and tools alone cannot substitute for genuine accessibility compliance.

Accessibility Widget Litigation Trend: 722 companies sued in 2024 despite having accessibility widgets installed, accounting for 25% of all cases. Widgets are not a complete solution and may actually expose companies to liability if they create a false impression of compliance.

Who Must Comply

• Ecommerce businesses of any size
• Service providers (restaurants, hotels, healthcare)
• Financial institutions
• Educational institutions
• Government agencies and public universities
• Media companies
• Social media platforms (ongoing debate about applicability)

Practical Deadline

While there is no federal mandate, the trend is clear: companies must prioritize accessibility immediately. The volume of lawsuits, combined with the DOJ's expanded Title II rule, signals increased enforcement priorities.

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European Union: The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Legal Framework & 2025 Milestone

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a groundbreaking EU directive that went into effect June 28, 2025—representing the most significant accessibility law change globally in 2025. The EAA represents a shift from voluntary guidelines to mandatory legal requirements across all EU member states.

The EAA applies to all EU member states and any organization providing digital products or services to EU consumers.

Compliance Requirements

Deadline Tiers:

• June 28, 2025: New digital products and services must be accessible
• June 28, 2030: Products and services already on market before June 28, 2025, must comply OR comply at their next major update (whichever comes first)

Technical Standard: EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 AA)

Organizations must ensure:

• Websites and mobile apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards
• Digital documents and ebooks are accessible
• Accessible user interfaces and error handling
• Support for assistive technologies
• Clear accessibility documentation

Penalties for Non-Compliance

The EAA introduced significant financial consequences:

Administrative Fines:

• Up to 4% of annual global turnover for serious violations
• For a large corporation with €1 billion in revenue, this could mean €40 million in fines
• Fines are imposed per violation, meaning multiple issues can stack penalties

Additional Consequences:

• Injunctions requiring website/app removal from market
• Public disclosure of non-compliance
• Mandatory corrective action plans with tight timelines
• Accumulated penalties across multiple countries in EU

Standards & Harmonized Conformity

EN 301 549 Adoption: The standard EN 301 549 was updated in September 2025 to align with the EAA and now includes WCAG 2.2 references. Compliance with EN 301 549 creates a "presumption of conformity" with the EAA—meaning if you meet EN 301 549, you're legally presumed compliant.

Enforcement Status (Mid-2025)

As of June 2025, only 3.7% of organizations reported being fully prepared for EAA compliance, leaving 96.3% scrambling to meet the deadline or facing penalties.

EU member states are actively establishing enforcement bodies and complaint mechanisms, with the first investigations and penalties expected by Q4 2025.

Who Must Comply

• All public websites (government, education)
• All ecommerce platforms selling in the EU
• Digital financial services
• Airlines and transportation ticketing systems
• Telecommunications providers
• Streaming services and digital media platforms
• Any private business offering digital products/services to EU consumers

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United Kingdom: The Equality Act

Legal Framework

The Equality Act 2010 is the primary legislation governing accessibility in the UK. It applies to both public and private sector organizations and prohibits discrimination based on disability—including digital discrimination.

For public sector bodies specifically, there is also the Public Sector Bodies (Website and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which applies directly to government websites.

2025 Compliance Requirements

Private Sector: Organizations must ensure their websites and mobile apps are accessible and not discriminatory toward people with disabilities. The standard is WCAG 2.2 Level AA (upgraded from 2.1 in 2025).

Public Sector: Public agencies must comply with WCAG 2.2 Level AA for:

• Websites and mobile applications
• Digital documents (PDFs, Word files, etc.)
• Video content (captions and transcripts)

Enforcement Bodies

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC):

• Investigates complaints about private sector accessibility barriers
• Can issue enforcement notices requiring accessibility improvements
• Can pursue legal action for discrimination

Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO):

• Samples public sector websites and mobile apps for compliance
• Can request access to any public sector digital property at any time
• Investigates complaints about government digital services

Penalties & Enforcement Actions

Key Difference from Other Jurisdictions: The UK does NOT impose fixed fines for accessibility violations (unlike the EU's 4% penalties). Instead, enforcement is handled through:

Civil Claims:

• Individuals can sue for discrimination under the Equality Act
• Compensation amounts are determined by courts based on harm suffered
• No statutory cap on damages
• Attorney fees and legal costs are recoverable

Regulatory Action:

• EHRC can issue Compliance Notices
• Non-compliance with notices can result in judicial review
• Public enforcement actions create reputational harm

Recent Enforcement Trend

The CDDO has increased audits of public sector websites, with particular scrutiny on:

• Local government websites
• NHS (National Health Service) digital services
• Educational institution websites

Multiple enforcement actions in 2024-2025 have led to mandatory remediation and public disclosures.

Who Must Comply

• All UK public sector organizations
• All UK private businesses offering goods/services
• Digital service providers
• Media and publishing companies
• Financial institutions
• Healthcare providers

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Canada: AODA & ACA

Legal Framework

Canada has two primary accessibility laws with different scopes:

AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act):

• Provincial law in Ontario
• Applies to organizations with 50+ employees
• Covers public and private sector

ACA (Accessible Canada Act):

• Federal law enacted in 2021
• Applies to federally regulated industries
• Increasingly important for national compliance

2025 Compliance Status & Deadlines

AODA Historical Milestone: January 1, 2025, marked the AODA's 20-year goal for Ontario to be fully accessible. However, compliance remains incomplete—many organizations have not met the June 2023 reporting deadline requirements for WCAG 2.0 AA conformance.

Next AODA Reporting Deadline: December 31, 2026 (large organizations must attest to accessibility compliance in annual reports)

Technical Requirements

AODA Standard:

• WCAG 2.0 Level AA (being updated toward 2.1)
• Websites and mobile applications
• Public-facing documents
• Social media content

Penalties for Non-Compliance

AODA Fines:

• Corporations: up to $100,000 per day of non-compliance
• Individuals/unincorporated organizations: up to $50,000 per day
• These are daily penalties, meaning a 30-day violation could result in $3 million in fines

ACA Penalties:

• Up to $30,000 in fines per violation
• Additional compensation for affected individuals
• Mandatory corrective action plans

Who Must Comply

AODA (Ontario):

• Any organization with 50+ employees in Ontario
• All government agencies
• All public institutions
• Educational organizations

ACA (Federal):

• Federally regulated industries (telecommunications, banking, transportation)
• Federal government agencies
• Crown corporations

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Australia: The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

Legal Framework

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 is Australia's primary legislation protecting people with disabilities from discrimination, including digital discrimination.

2025 & Beyond: Government Review

Australia is conducting a significant review of the DDA (consultation ending November 2025). This review may result in strengthened digital accessibility requirements.

Digital Experience Policy (Effective January 1, 2025): The Digital Transformation Agency introduced new standards requiring:

• Improved digital accessibility
• Simplified access to government services
• Enhanced user experience for all Australians

Current Compliance Requirements

Technical Standard:

• WCAG 2 Level AA (recommended by Australian Human Rights Commission)
• Applies to both public and private sector websites
• Mobile app accessibility
• Digital document accessibility

Enforcement & Penalties

Compensation:

• Up to AUD 100,000 for accessibility violations
• Individual damages vary based on severity
• Class actions possible (multiple affected individuals)

Legal Process:

• Complaints filed with Australian Human Rights Commission
• Commission investigates and attempts conciliation
• If unsuccessful, individuals can pursue federal court litigation
• Federal courts determine compensation amounts

Recent Enforcement Action

The Australian Human Rights Commission has increased complaints handling and outreach, particularly toward:

• Government websites
• Major retail/ecommerce sites
• Financial services platforms

Context: Disability Population

18% of Australia's population (4.4 million people) lives with some form of disability, making accessibility both a business opportunity and a legal imperative.

Who Must Comply

• All Australian government agencies
• Private sector businesses (no employee threshold)
• Educational institutions
• Healthcare providers
• Financial institutions
• Ecommerce platforms

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Accessibility Compliance Standards: Global Comparison Table

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The Litigation Explosion: Why This Matters Now

2024-2025 Lawsuit Trends

The data is alarming:

• 4,187 lawsuits filed in 2024 (up from 3,188 in 2023)
• 2,019 lawsuits filed in first half of 2025 (tracking toward 4,975 total)
• 77% targeted ecommerce businesses
• 40% involved repeat defendants who had been sued before

Most Sued Industries (2024-2025)

1. Ecommerce & Online Retail (77% of cases)—the highest target
2. Food Service (11% of cases)
3. Healthcare (growing)
4. Finance & Banking (emerging trend)
5. Education (growing, particularly higher ed)

Geographic Concentration

• New York: 50%+ of all state-level ADA lawsuits
• California: 3,252 Title III filings in 2024 (37% increase from 2023)
• Florida: Significant volume of litigation

The Accessibility Widget Problem

In 2024, 1,023 lawsuits (25% of all cases) explicitly cited accessibility widgets as barriers rather than solutions. Key findings:

• 722 companies sued in 2024 despite having widgets installed
• Widgets are not sufficient solutions for genuine accessibility
• Installing a widget without fixing underlying issues can actually expose companies to liability (false impression of compliance)
• Widgets may violate FTC regulations if they market themselves as solutions they don't actually provide (see accessiBe $1M settlement)

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What This Means for Your Business: Immediate Action Steps

Risk Assessment

High Risk: If your company:

• Operates ecommerce (highest target)
• Has no accessibility audit on file
• Operates in California, New York, or Florida
• Has received accessibility complaints
• Uses accessibility widgets but hasn't fixed underlying issues

Medium Risk: If your company:

• Operates in any other U.S. state
• Operates in EU markets
• Has not conducted accessibility testing in 2+ years

Lower Risk: If your company:

• Has completed WCAG 2.1 AA audit within last 12 months
• Is actively remediating issues found
• Has accessibility statement on website
• Regularly tests with assistive technologies

Immediate Priorities

Quarter 1 (Next 90 Days):

1. Conduct a professional WCAG 2.1 AA audit (or WCAG 2.2 if in UK/NZ)
2. Document findings and remediation plan
3. Assign accessibility ownership (product, engineering, legal teams)
4. If you have an accessibility widget, audit whether it's actually helping

Quarter 2 (90-180 Days):

1. Begin remediation of critical accessibility barriers
2. Implement automated accessibility testing in CI/CD pipeline
3. Train development team on accessible coding practices
4. Create accessibility statement and post on website

Ongoing:

1. Test with real assistive technologies (screen readers, voice control)
2. Include accessibility in product requirements and acceptance criteria
3. Conduct quarterly accessibility assessments
4. Maintain documentation of compliance efforts

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Beacon: Your Global Accessibility Compliance Partner

Beacon automates web accessibility scanning using industry-leading Axe-core technology and Playwright browser automation. Whether you're subject to the ADA, EAA, AODA, or DDA, Beacon helps you maintain continuous WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.

How Beacon Helps

Continuous Scanning:

• Automated WCAG 2.1 AA compliance scanning
• Multi-page depth scanning (crawl your entire site)
• Mobile accessibility testing
• Scan scheduling and historical tracking

Compliance Documentation:

• Detailed violation reports with remediation guidance
• Scan history for compliance audits
• Export reports for legal review
• Tracking of progress over time

Development Integration:

• Seamless integration with your existing workflow
• Identify issues before they reach production
• Support for your entire development team

Global Coverage: Beacon serves organizations subject to:

• ADA (United States)
• EAA (European Union)
• AODA (Canada)
• DDA (Australia)
• Equality Act (United Kingdom)
• And other jurisdictions requiring WCAG compliance

Start Your Compliance Journey

Organizations that conduct regular accessibility scans catch issues 3-4 weeks before they become problems. Beacon makes continuous compliance effortless, helping you protect your users and your business.

Don't wait for a lawsuit. Start scanning today.

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Conclusion: Accessibility Is Non-Negotiable in 2025

The accessibility landscape has shifted dramatically in 2025:

• The EU's EAA represents mandatory compliance with penalties up to 4% of global revenue
• U.S. litigation continues to accelerate, with 4,000+ lawsuits filed annually
• Enforcement actions are increasing globally, from India to Australia
• Accessibility is no longer optional—it's a legal requirement in virtually every major jurisdiction

The path forward is clear:

1. Audit: Understand your current compliance status
2. Remediate: Fix critical accessibility barriers
3. Automate: Implement continuous testing to prevent future issues
4. Document: Maintain evidence of good-faith compliance efforts
5. Maintain: Regular testing and updates ensure ongoing compliance

The cost of action is measurable and fixed. The cost of inaction is unlimited—both financially and legally.

Your customers with disabilities deserve equal access to your digital services. Your business deserves protection from litigation. 2025 is the year to make accessibility a priority.