Public institutions have long been required to make their digital services accessible. Now a new law will oblige companies to do the same.
From 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (in German: Barrierefreiheitstärkungsgesetz - BFSG) will come into force for certain products and services. It aims to increase the participation of people with disabilities in society and to enforce uniform standards across the EU.
Accessibility exists when people with disabilities can use products, product information and services in the usual way: they must be "findable, accessible and usable without particular difficulty and generally without outside help" (BFSG §3).
If you want to use a smartphone, more than one sensory channel should be available for interaction - for example, a message could also be read aloud.
For example, to make everyday life easier for people with visual impairments, appropriate font sizes and contrasts should be used when providing product information.
The following products and product groups are particularly affected:
- Computers, notebooks, tablets, smartphones, mobile phones
- Self-service terminals: e.g. ATMs, ticket machines, check-in machines, interactive self-service terminals for providing information
- Terminals with interaction options (e.g. televisions)
- E-book readers
The new law applies to providers of the following services, among others:
- Telecommunications services
- Elements of passenger transport services: including websites, apps, electronic tickets, transport service/travel information
- Banking services
- E-book software
- E-commerce services (e.g. e-commerce, online appointment booking)
All manufacturers of the above-mentioned product groups and service providers (the latter excluding microenterprises).