Here’s the 2025 Regulation You Should Know About—and How Everyone Benefits
Until now, only public institutions or government-funded websites have been required to ensure digital accessibility. But starting in 2025, accessibility will be mandatory for most online shops and customer portals, including in the B2B sector.
Who Does This Law Apply To?
In 2021, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) was transposed into German national law with the "Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz" (BFSG). This act mandates that private businesses offer certain services and products via websites or apps in an accessible way. This means, for example, that users with disabilities must be able to register on a B2B site with ease.
Why Is This Necessary?
The BFSG enforces the European Accessibility Act (EAA), an EU directive aimed at improving accessibility. Beyond the legal requirement, though, there are strong economic and ethical arguments for making digital products and services accessible, ensuring an optimal customer experience for all users. To cite one example: 9.5% of Germany’s population, or 7.9 million people, live with a severe disability, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
What Are the Benefits of Digital Accessibility?
Without accessibility, these 7.9 million people are often excluded as potential customers, along with many others who may struggle to access online content in their daily lives. Common barriers include small font sizes, overly complex text, and fixed contrast settings that make navigation difficult.
An optimal customer experience for all users brings significant advantages, potentially boosting business through lower bounce rates, more traffic, and longer session durations — all of which can lead to higher Google rankings.
What Does Accessibility Have to Do with Google?
Some SEO experts humorously describe Google as the “first disabled visitor,” given that its bots cannot see, hear, or click. When comparing digital accessibility guidelines to SEO best practices, the two frequently align.
User satisfaction is increasingly important in Google’s ranking criteria, and structured, easy-to-navigate websites offer a dual advantage: they’re accessible and more favorable in Google’s ranking algorithm. Google processes only text, so images and media require proper labeling. A well-structured, easy-to-navigate site is essential for screen readers — a critical tool for visually impaired users. Criteria like optimized image alt attributes benefit both search engines and accessibility tools such as text-to-speech applications.
When Does the Accessibility Law Take Effect?
The new rules will go into effect in 2025, with an additional five-year transition period for services. Many business owners assume they can wait, but the need to act is already here. “Many companies underestimate the impact of the new legal requirements, which can lead to serious consequences, including lawsuits and fines,” warns Bastian Ehl, UX Lead at Macaw.
How Can I Check if My Website Is Accessible?
One option is this online tool: https://wave.webaim.org/
At Sybit, we’re also addressing the issue of accessibility and are currently working to ensure our own site meets these standards.