Website accessibility refers to making websites usable for people with disabilities. This includes those with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments. With over 1 billion people estimated to live with disabilities worldwide, building accessible websites is an important consideration for any business or organization with an online presence. But is there a legal obligation to do so? Let’s examine the laws and regulations around website accessibility specifically in Hungary.
Laws and Regulations in Hungary:
Hungary has comprehensive anti-discrimination laws that require equal access for people with disabilities. The key pieces of legislation are Act XXVI of 1998 on the Rights and Equal Opportunities of Persons with Disabilities and the CXXV of 2003 Act on Equal Treatment and Promotion of Equal Opportunities.
These laws ban discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the basis of disability. There are also mandates for reasonable accommodations to be made so that disabled individuals can access and utilize services and facilities. The 1998 Disabilities Act specifically references access to communications and information systems.
Additionally, as a member state of the European Union, Hungary is bound by the EU Web Accessibility Directive. This requires that public sector websites meet certain accessibility standards set out in the WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
While the current Hungarian laws do not explicitly call out private website accessibility, the expansive non-discrimination provisions indicate that organizations must take reasonable steps to make their websites usable for disabled individuals. Those that fail to do so risk legal action on disability discrimination grounds.
Court Cases:
There have not yet been any court cases directly focused on website accessibility filed in Hungary. However, advocates point to emerging legal trends across Europe and the potential for litigation in this area.
In 2021, the first web accessibility lawsuit under the EU Directive was filed in Germany against auto company Opel. This could inspire similar legal challenges in other EU countries including Hungary. Also in 2021, Lidl was sued in Spain under equality and non-discrimination laws for having a supposedly inaccessible website.
So while concrete jurisprudence is still developing, Hungary’s robust protections for the disabled coupled with EU-level directives suggest that organizations must regard website accessibility as an area of legal obligation rather than just best practice.
Accessibility Standards:
For organizations seeking to proactively improve the accessibility of their digital assets, the WCAG 2.1 AA standard provides a widely accepted benchmark. This covers issues ranging from text alternatives for images to color contrast levels. Compliance means that websites are maximally usable and navigable by those with disabilities.
Adopting these standards and utilizing tools like AllAccessible during website builds and redesigns is the best way to avoid any legal exposure related to accessibility. This helps make the site compliant with both Hungarian law and EU directives. Periodically running accessibility audits help can catch any areas that may have been overlooked.
While not explicitly spelled out in statutes, Hungary’s strong stances against disability discrimination coupled with emerging EU regulations make a compelling case for treating website accessibility as a legal obligation. By taking proactive steps like implementing WCAG 2.1 AA standards, Hungarian organizations can demonstrate their commitment to equal access and inclusion for all.