Approximately two-thirds of online stores fail to meet accessibility standards.
German Online Shops Failing Accessibility Standards Before Deadline
It's high time, even before the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act kicks in, that major webshops in Germany shape up their act when it comes to offering digital products and services barrier-free. This is the shocking revelation from a study by Google, "Aktion Mensch", and the Pfennigparade Foundation in Berlin. According to the study, a paltry third of the 65 most popular webshops in Deutschland can be accessed using a keyboard—the most basic requirement for accessibility without a mouse.
For the folks living with disabilities, keyboard accessibility is a fundamental building block for barrier-free browsing. Interestingly, the scenario has witnessed a slight improvement over the past year, with 20% of popular webshops complying with accessibility standards in 2024.
High Stakes, High Fines
On June 28, the implementation period of the EU directive on the accessibility of products and services expires. This directive demands EU member states to ensure certain products and services, including online trading, are accessible to all. In Germany, this is manifested through the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act.
The Act forces companies to adapt their offerings to the legal requirements for barrier-free accessibility. Small service providers with ten employees or fewer and an annual turnover of less than two million euros are exempted. Non-compliance could land them in hot water, with fines of up to 100,000 euros looming large.
Germany is home to 7.8 million people living with recognized severe disabilities, including approximately 350,000 people with blindness or visual impairments.
Keyboard Access Often Impossible
In the current study, experts scrutinized 65 particularly popular online shops. A disquieting finding—only 20 websites (30.8%) can be operated via keyboard, leaving the rest in the lurch. Keyboard accessibility is elementary for many persons with disabilities to use digital platforms freely. Worse, most of the tested websites lack a visible keyboard focus, making it hard for visually impaired individuals to spot the currently selected element.
Christina Marx, spokesperson for "Aktion Mensch", laments, "The time for excuses is over—from now on, digital offers must be barrier-free." The study's results paint a serious picture: Too many companies are skating on thin ice, risking significant fines while excluding people with disabilities, potential customers. However, it's a win-win situation for them—the Ultimate reward extends beyond avoidance of fines; an accessible website benefits everyone by providing a comfortable browsing experience.
- Technology and policy-and-legislation intersect as Germany faces high stakes and potential fines of up to 100,000 euros for non-compliance with the EU directive on accessibility of products and services, specifically the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act, which demands online trading to be accessible to all.
- The study by Google, "Aktion Mensch", and the Pfennigparade Foundation in Berlin reveals a concern in politics and general-news, as only 30.8% of the 65 most popular webshops in Deutschland offer keyboard accessibility—a fundamental necessity for individuals with disabilities to browse digital platforms freely.
