Norway web accessibility

Norway Web Accessibility Laws

The main web accessibility law in Norway is the European Directive on the accessibility of websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies, known as EN 301549. The E.U. Web Accessibility Directive was enacted in 2016, ratified by the E.U. Parliament and the Council of the E.U. It primarily applies to government agencies but does have consequences for private organizations as well. As of today, all public sector bodies in E.U. Member States must comply with EN 301 549 standards, including Norway.

On May 28th, 2021, a new EU directive was introduced into Norwegian law, compelling all agencies and organizations of the public sector to remediate their digital assets according to WCAG 2.1 standards. The directive came into force on January 1, 2022, with an implementation period of one year until January 2023.

The Norwegian government stated: “The directive is part of the EU’s strategy for the development of the digital single market, and the new requirements will provide better access for all, and especially for people with disabilities.”

ADAA compliance

In addition, the Norwegian Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act (Diskriminerings- og tilgjengelighetsloven) addresses accessibility requirements for websites and digital services. The act prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires public and private sector entities to ensure equal access to their services.

Under the Anti-Discrimination and Accessibility Act, public sector websites and digital services must comply with WCAG 2.0 AA level. The law also applies to private sector entities that provide services to the public, such as transportation, education, healthcare, and more.

The Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families has issued regulations on universal design and accessibility in information and communication technology (ICT). These regulations specify the technical requirements for web accessibility, including adherence to WCAG 2.0 AA.

At EqualWeb, we recommend you remediate and audit your website against WCAG 2.1 guidelines to avoid any legal risk and to open your doors to the large population of individuals living with disabilities.