Website accessibility is becoming an increasingly important topic in Italy, in particular since companies have until the 28th June 2025 to comply with the new European Accessibility Directive.
In this article, we outline the Italian legal framework for website accessibility, the importance of early action, and practical steps businesses can take to ensure compliance and enhance their digital presence.
The Legge Stanca and Italian legal framework
Italy’s legal framework for website accessibility combines national legislation with European directives to ensure digital inclusivity.
Legge n. 4/2004 („Legge Stanca“) is the foundational legislation for website accessibility in Italy. Initially aimed at public administrations and entities offering public services, its scope was later expanded to include private companies that offer services to the public through websites or mobile applications, provided their average turnover in the last three years exceeds €500 million (Art. 3, comma 1-bis).
Following the amendments introduced by Decreto-legge n. 76/2020, the Legge Stanca now imposes specific obligations on both public and private entities as defined by the law. These obligations include employee training, drafting and maintaining an accessibility declaration, and ensuring compliance with the AgID (Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale) guidelines, as per Article 11 of the law.
For private companies, non-compliance follows a distinct process compared to public authorities. It involves audits to identify breaches, corrective deadlines to address them, and, if unresolved, potential sanctions of up to 5% of annual turnover.
To complete the Italian legal framework on accessibility, it is important to highlight the significance of the AgID Guidelines, which align with WCAG 2.1 standards and require at least a minimum AA level of accessibility.
The Impact of the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
Starting in June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), introduced by Directive 2019/882, will establish accessibility requirements for certain products and services provided by the private sector. These products and services must comply with the Directive, which sets out specific obligations to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. The EAA represents a new legislative framework governing accessibility standard for the products and services within its scope. New obligations will apply to both public and private entities, with key points including:
- Coverage of essential sectors such as public transport and emergency services.
- Exemptions for microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual revenue of less than 2 million euros.
- Requirements for digital platforms to comply with WCAG 2.1 standards, including features such as:
- Compatibility with screen readers;
- Alternative text for images and videos;
- Simplified navigation for users with cognitive or motor disabilities.
Even if your organization is not currently subject to mandatory accessibility requirements, early adoption of best practices offers significant benefits, such as reducing the risk of sanctions and reputational repercussions and broadening the audience of your online presence to include the elderly and people with disabilities.
Key Take-aways for your Company: Best Practices for Accessibility Compliance
To meet current and upcoming requirements, organizations should focus on these actionable steps:
- Conduct Accessibility Audits to identify gaps in your website and app’s compliance with accessibility standards;
- Adopt Accessibility-Oriented Design for your website and apps;
- Prepare accessibility statements in order to provide information about the accessibility features of your products and services;
- Train Your employees to understand and implement accessibility requirements;
- Make sure that support services (help desks, call centres, technical support, etc.) comply with accessibility requirements and provide information on their accessibility features;
- Continuously evaluate and adapt digital platforms to align with evolving standards and technologies.
Conclusion: Accessibility as a Strategic Advantage
Website accessibility is not just a legal obligation—it’s a strategic investment in inclusivity, user experience, and innovation. The upcoming enforcement of the European Accessibility Act in June 2025 makes now the ideal time to integrate accessibility into your business strategy.
Involving privacy and compliance experts can further enhance your approach by:
- Ensuring holistic compliance with accessibility and data protection standards.
- Reducing risks through accurate and legally sound declarations.
- Preparing for future regulatory changes.
It’s important to mention that according to Directive EU 2019/882, Member States will designate the authorities responsible for checking compliance of products and services, following up on complaints and reports on issues relating to non-compliance and verifying that companies have taken corrective measures, when required to do so. Consumers, public bodies and private associations may take action under national law before the courts or the competent administrative bodies in case of non-compliance.
By acting now, your organization can avoid last-minute challenges, improve its digital presence, and position itself as a leader in accessible digital services.
Start today to build a more inclusive and future-ready online environment!