Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
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Key facts
- Jurisdiction
- United Kingdom
- Sector
- Public sector
- Applies to
- UK public sector bodies and their websites, intranets, extranets, and public-facing mobile apps. Some charities, broadcasters, and school content are exempt. Older intranets and extranets have different timing, and apps for defined groups such as employees or students are not covered by these regulations.
- Standard
- WCAG 2.2 Level AA, as expected by the Government Digital Service
- Dates
- : Public sector websites published on or after September 23, 2018
- : Older public sector websites
- : Public sector mobile apps
What it requires
Websites and mobile apps must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. The Government Digital Service says meeting WCAG 2.2 Level AA satisfies this.
Each body must publish an accessibility statement in the government's model format and keep it under review. A body can claim that full compliance would be a disproportionate burden only after assessing it, and it must say in the statement what it could not fix.
The dates have passed: new websites from September 23, 2019, older websites from September 23, 2020, and mobile apps from June 23, 2021.
How it is enforced
The Government Digital Service monitors a sample of public sector websites and apps each year on behalf of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces the regulations in England, Scotland, and Wales, and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland does so in Northern Ireland.
Sources
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