Introduction
This article provides an overview of the key requirements of the European Accessibility Act and explains how companies can implement accessible videos and livestreams. We outline which digital content is affected by the law, what technical and content-related measures are necessary, and what opportunities arise for businesses. Additionally, we highlight how movingimage can support you in making your videos and livestreams accessible. Please note that this article provides general information – for legal advice, you should consult legal experts.
The European Accessibility Act 2025 – an overview
Let’s take a closer look at the law: The European Accessibility Act 2025 implements an EU directive aimed at ensuring equal access to digital products and services. As of June 28, 2025, the new regulations will be legally binding for companies that provide digital content within the EU.
Who is affected?
The European Accessibility Act affects many businesses, especially those that provide digital products and services to consumers. This includes:
- Manufacturers and retailers of digital products, such as computers, smartphones, and self-service terminals like ATMs or ticket machines.
- Companies offering digital services, including online banking, e-commerce, and audiovisual media services such as streaming platforms.
- Providers of online shops, websites, and mobile apps that offer products or services to consumers.
Companies should independently assess whether they are affected by the law and determine what measures are necessary to ensure compliance.
Which digital content is affected?
The European Accessibility Act mandates accessibility for certain digital content and services, particularly those intended for consumers. This includes:
- Websites and mobile apps that offer digital services such as online banking, insurance portals, or ticket booking.
- E-commerce platforms that must ensure accessible access to online shops and digital purchasing processes.
- Audiovisual media, including streaming services and corporate videos, which must be made accessible through subtitles, audio descriptions, or intuitive navigation.
- Telecommunications services and digital communication, such as messaging services or video conferencing tools, which must provide accessible features.
- Electronic documents and e-books, which must be available in accessible formats for people with visual impairments.
What does accessibility mean for videos and livestreams?
As video experts, our primary focus is on how audiovisual content can be made accessible. Videos and livestreams are essential communication tools for companies—whether for marketing, internal communication, customer service, or training. However, only if these contents are truly accessible can all individuals fully benefit from them.
In this context, accessibility means that videos and livestreams must be designed so that they are usable by everyone, regardless of any limitations. This is not only a legal requirement under the European Accessibility Act but also a matter of inclusion and user experience.
This primarily affects:
- People with hearing impairments who rely on subtitles or transcripts to understand spoken content.
- People with visual impairments who need audio descriptions or screen reader-compatible video players.
- People with motor impairments who must be able to control videos via keyboard, alternative input devices, or voice commands.
Accessible videos therefore require various technical and content-related measures to ensure usability. These include subtitles, audio descriptions, intuitive navigation, and video players that are compatible with assistive technologies. These measures not only enhance accessibility but also improve the overall user experience.
When looking at specific measures, we examine three key areas of accessibility requirements throughout the entire video journey:
- Requirements for videos and video creation – What measures are necessary to make an individual video accessible?
- Requirements for livestreams – How can accessibility be ensured in real-time?
- Requirements for video distribution – What factors need to be considered when distributing videos across different platforms?
Requirements for videos and video creation
For a video to be considered accessible, various technical and content-related criteria must be met:
Subtitles
Subtitles are a key requirement for making videos accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. We recommend using closed captions (CC), as they offer greater flexibility and can be provided in multiple languages.
Thanks to modern AI technologies, subtitles can now be generated automatically with high precision. These systems recognize spoken language, convert it into text, and synchronize the subtitles with the video—all within minutes. Additionally, AI-powered translations allow subtitles to be converted into multiple languages, significantly improving the international accessibility of video content.
However, subtitles are not only beneficial for people with hearing impairments but also enhance the overall user experience. They make it easier to follow videos in noisy environments, such as public transportation or open offices. Additionally, they cater to viewers who prefer to watch content without sound, for example, on social media platforms where videos are often played on mute. Subtitles also increase watch time and engagement by making content more easily understandable for a wider audience.
Transcripts
Provide a complete transcript of the video and offer it as a downloadable file. This not only helps individuals with hearing impairments but also improves the discoverability of content in search engines—a clear advantage for companies in terms of SEO rankings.
With innovative AI technologies, creating transcripts is now easier than ever. Automatic speech recognition can convert spoken text into written form within minutes with high accuracy. Additionally, AI-powered translations enable transcripts to be provided in multiple languages, making content not only accessible but also globally available. This benefits not only people with disabilities but also international audiences by enhancing the overall user experience.
Audio description
For visually impaired individuals, visual elements in a video should be supplemented with auditory descriptions. This can be provided through a separate audio track that can be selected within the video player.
A professional audio description can also be generated using AI-powered tools that automatically detect and describe visual elements. While this does not replace human editing, it can serve as an initial version that can be refined for greater accuracy and clarity.
Sign language interpreters
In some cases, it may be necessary to include an embedded sign language interpretation in a video. This is particularly useful for companies that provide content for the public sector or social institutions, where sign language interpretation can be a valuable addition to ensure accessibility.
Accessible video players
An accessible video player is a fundamental requirement for making videos available to everyone. It ensures that individuals with disabilities can easily access video content. Thoughtful usability also benefits older users, mobile viewers, and anyone who values intuitive controls.
A key aspect of accessibility is full keyboard navigation. Users should be able to navigate the player without a mouse. Clear focus indicators help visually impaired individuals orient themselves within the interface. It is also crucial to avoid so-called keyboard traps, ensuring that all elements can be accessed and exited freely.
For blind and visually impaired users, compatibility with screen readers is essential. An accessible video player must be designed so that screen readers can detect and read out all relevant controls. Buttons such as “Play,” “Pause,” and “Volume” should be clearly labeled, and navigation should follow a logical structure.
Another important feature is customizable subtitles. Users should be able to adjust font size, contrast, and display settings to ensure subtitles remain easily readable under all conditions. Modern video players offer automatic font size adjustments so that subtitles are displayed optimally on any device.
Beyond these core accessibility requirements, additional features further enhance the user experience. High-contrast text and clearly visible graphical elements ensure that content remains legible even for those with reduced vision. The ability to personalize the player’s layout—such as choosing different fonts or increasing display size—makes it adaptable to diverse needs.
An accessible video player should also be responsive across different devices. Support for both portrait and landscape modes ensures that content is optimally displayed on smartphones as well as larger screens. Additionally, unexpected pop-ups or layout changes that could disrupt usability should be avoided.
By incorporating these accessibility features, a video player not only meets legal requirements but also provides a comfortable and intuitive experience for all users. Companies that invest in accessible video players promote inclusion while improving overall usability and expanding their reach to a broader audience.
Requirements for livestreams
Livestreams pose unique challenges for accessibility since content is delivered in real-time. However, various measures can be implemented to ensure that live events remain accessible. Modern technologies, such as automatic captioning and AI-powered speech recognition, greatly simplify this process. However, to ensure high quality, these technologies should be combined with manual corrections where necessary.
Live subtitles
Real-time subtitles are essential for making livestreams accessible, as they enable deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to immediately follow spoken content. Automatic speech recognition can be a valuable tool in this process.
Modern AI-powered systems now offer high linguistic accuracy by generating subtitles directly from the original audio track with excellent quality. An integrated dictionary function allows company-specific terms, names, or technical terminology to be stored within the system. This ensures that corporate abbreviations or industry-specific terms are correctly recognized and transcribed.
Another major advantage of automatic live subtitling is the ability to translate subtitles into multiple languages. AI-driven systems can generate subtitles in real-time while simultaneously translating them into different languages. This not only enhances accessibility but also makes livestreams more accessible to an international audience, eliminating the need for separate language versions.
By combining automated recognition, manual refinement, and customizable options, live subtitles can now be implemented more efficiently and accurately than ever before.
Live transcription
In addition to subtitles, a live transcription can be provided to display spoken content in a continuous text format. This is particularly useful for individuals who prefer to follow text in a separate window or on a second screen.
Live transcription can be displayed in real-time during the stream or made available as a downloadable, accessible text document after the event. This not only serves as an alternative for accessibility but also enhances content clarity and comprehension for all viewers.
Live audio description
For visually impaired individuals, an additional audio track with live audio description can be provided. While spoken content in livestreams is usually clear, important visual information—such as gestures, diagrams, presentations, or on-screen text—may be missing.
Live audio description can be delivered by additional speakers who describe relevant visual elements in real-time. Alternatively, AI-powered audio description systems are now available that can generate descriptions automatically during the livestream.
Sign language interpreters for livestreams
For deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, a sign language interpreter can be displayed during the stream. This is particularly important for content with complex technical vocabulary or when the audience heavily relies on sign language.
The interpreter can either be visible in a separate window or embedded directly into the video. Some platforms also offer the option to enable or disable the interpreter stream, allowing users to choose whether they want to use this feature.
Accessible interactions: keyboard-accessible chat & polls
Many livestreams include interactive elements such as chats, polls, or Q&A sessions to engage the audience. To ensure that people with motor impairments or visual disabilities can participate, these functions must be fully keyboard-accessible and compatible with screen readers.
The cursor should be navigable through all interactive elements using the Tab key, allowing users to interact without a mouse. Clear visual focus indicators should highlight the currently selected function. Additionally, text input fields and buttons must be clearly labeled so that screen readers can recognize and read them accurately.
By implementing these measures, all participants—regardless of their individual limitations—can actively engage in livestream interactions.
Requirements for video distribution
Accessibility does not end with the production of an accessible video—its distribution and embedding on websites and platforms must also be designed accordingly. Videos must be easily accessible regardless of the technology used or the individual needs of users. This includes both the technical implementation and the user-friendliness of the platforms where the content is made available.
Platform compatibility
To ensure videos are accessible to all users, they must be compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies. This requires platforms to use semantically correct HTML elements and ARIA roles, allowing screen readers to recognize a logical structure. Without proper implementation, users with visual impairments may struggle to locate or control video content.
Customizable subtitles and audio options
As mentioned in the section on accessible video players, subtitles should be fully customizable. This requirement also applies to the embedding and distribution of videos. Users should have the ability to adjust the font size, colors, and background of subtitles to match their individual needs. Additionally, alternative audio tracks should be available, allowing users to select options such as live audio description or different language versions.
Download options for accessibility
In addition to video playback, it is important to offer transcripts and subtitles as downloadable files. This is especially useful for individuals who need to access content in alternative formats later. Providing easily accessible download options ensures that users can retain access to the content even after the original stream has ended.
Keyboard navigation
Video controls must be fully operable via keyboard. This means that playing, pausing, fast-forwarding, rewinding, and adjusting the volume should all be possible without a mouse. As previously mentioned in the section on accessible video players, this feature is essential for individuals with motor impairments or those using alternative input devices.
Platform operators should also ensure that video navigation—such as chapter markers or content menus—is accessible via keyboard or voice control, allowing all users to interact with video content seamlessly.
User-friendly design and intuitive navigation
Accessibility extends beyond technical aspects—it also requires a strong focus on usability. An accessible website or platform should feature clear and intuitive navigation, making it easy for users to find their way around. This includes a well-organized placement of controls, a clearly structured content layout, and the avoidance of overly complex menus or nested navigation paths.
Additionally, interactive elements such as video overlays or advertisements should not interfere with usability, ensuring that users can navigate and interact with content without unnecessary obstacles.
Consequences of non-compliance
Compliance with the European Accessibility Act is not only a legal obligation but also a crucial factor for a company’s reputation. Businesses that fail to meet the requirements may face consequences.
Fines and legal risks
The law imposes sanctions for non-compliance. Companies that fail to provide accessible digital content may face significant fines. The exact penalties vary depending on the severity of the violation and the affected user groups.
Reputational damage and public criticism
Failing to meet accessibility requirements can lead to negative public perception and scrutiny from consumer groups and advocacy organizations. Inaccessibility may be seen as a lack of inclusivity, potentially damaging a company’s reputation and weakening trust in its brand over time.
How movingimage supports the implementation of accessibility requirements
movingimage offers various solutions to help companies comply with legal accessibility requirements:
New accessible video player
Our video player meets all key accessibility requirements. It supports multiple audio tracks, offers customizable subtitles, and is fully operable via keyboard.
Live subtitling with AI and dictionary function
Our AI-powered live subtitling enables real-time captioning for livestreams. The integrated dictionary function allows industry-specific terms to be added, improving the accuracy of automatic transcription.
Support for audio description
Our player recognizes multiple audio tracks, allowing a separate audio description track to be easily added and selected. This ensures that visually impaired users can fully experience the media content.
Automatic transcription and translations
Our platform provides automatic transcriptions for videos and translations into more than 50 languages. This enables companies to make their content both accessible and globally available.
Conclusion
The European Accessibility Act 2025 introduces new requirements for businesses but also presents an opportunity to make video content more accessible and future-proof. Companies that act early not only minimize legal risks but also enhance user experience and reach a broader audience. Accessible videos increase engagement, expand visibility, and provide SEO benefits, as transcribed content is better indexed by search engines.
With movingimage, you have a strong partner to help make your videos accessible. Let’s shape a more inclusive digital future together! To help you get started, we have compiled a checklist with valuable accessibility tips—allowing you to plan the next steps and ensure your company is fully prepared for the new regulations.
