New wave of regulation: Spain enforces mandatory digital accessibility law

As of June 28, Spain has enacted a law aligning national rules with EU Directive 2019/882. All companies whose websites or mobile apps offer products or services to the public are now required to ensure digital accessibility for people with disabilities. This applies to e-commerce, booking platforms, educational sites, media, and banks.

The law requires compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA standards — including alt text for images, subtitles, keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, and cognitively clear design.

What businesses must do:

• Publish an accessibility statement and provide a public complaint channel
• Maintain continuous monitoring and store technical documentation for 5 years

❗️ Non-compliance may result in fines of up to €90,000 and loss of access to public funding.

At the same time, the law creates opportunities for consultants, developers, and accessibility auditors. The European digital accessibility market is projected to reach €20 billion by 2026.