If your company operates in any of the 27 EU member states or serves EU customers, accessibility is no longer optional—it is a legal requirement.
Starting on June 28, 2025, the EU will enforce the European Accessibility Act (EAA), a new regulation that establishes minimum accessibility standards.
Under the EAA, all products and services—including websites, mobile apps, media players, and video content—must satisfy core accessibility criteria.
For businesses that rely on video, this article explains mandatory obligations and presents a straightforward solution: hosting on Wistia streamlines compliance.
Why you’ll want to stay compliant
Penalties vary across EU member states, with some treating violations as criminal offenses. Regardless of where your headquarters are, compliance is mandatory for any EU‑mandated customer base.
For detailed penalty information, consult resources such as Level Access, which outlines the strictest fines in select jurisdictions.
The EAA requirements for video
Section I, Annex I of the EAA defines the accessibility expectations for all products and services. In practice, this translates to:
- Usage instructions must be provided in multiple accessible formats—such as clear text or audio—ensuring readability and usability (e.g., appropriate font size, typeface, and color contrast).
- Support channels should disclose the product’s accessibility features and confirm compatibility with assistive technologies.
- The interface itself must be navigable, usable, and controllable by individuals with disabilities.
For video, the EAA aligns with EN 301 549, which adopts WCAG 2.2 as its foundation for digital accessibility.
Accordingly, your videos should incorporate the following accessibility elements:
- Captions/subtitles: Precisely timed captions covering spoken dialogue and significant non‑speech audio.
- Audio descriptions: Narrative overlays that convey essential visual details for viewers relying on audio.
- Transcripts: Full text of the audio, including dialogue and key non‑speech cues.
- User controls: Player controls that enable access to audio descriptions and allow caption customization (size, font, etc.).
Select a player that offers comprehensive support for these features—details follow.
Updating backlog videos
Do you need to retroactively update pre‑June 28 2025 videos? Generally, no. Only audiovisual media providers—such as streaming services and broadcasters—must modernize their archives by 2030.
Multilingual support requirements
The EAA does not mandate specific languages; however, you must ensure accessibility in the languages your audience uses. For instance, Spanish‑speaking customers require Spanish captions and, where applicable, audio descriptions.
Wistia can help you meet the EAA’s video accessibility requirements
While compliance can seem daunting, a suitable hosting platform can automate the process—achieving full compliance in just a few clicks.
Wistia delivers the complete suite of accessibility tools required by the EAA, enhancing both compliance and viewer experience.
Below is a mapping of Section I, Annex I requirements to the capabilities Wistia offers.
The instructions for using your product must be:
Made available via more than one sensory channel
- Auto‑generated transcripts and captions
- Translations, captions, and dubbing in over 70 languages
- Standard and extended audio descriptions (English only)
Presented in an understandable way
- Editable transcripts that become accurate captions
- Precise translations and dubbing with regional accent choices
- Fast, high‑quality playback
Presented to users in ways they can perceive
- Interactive accessibility checklist to validate multi‑modal accessibility
- Caption customization controls (font, size, color)
- High‑contrast, keyboard‑navigable player controls
Presented in fonts of adequate size and suitable shape, taking into account foreseeable conditions of use, and using sufficient contrast, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines, and paragraphs
- Caption controls for font, size, color, and spacing adjustments
Made available in text formats that can be used for generating alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways and via more than one sensory channel
- Auto‑generated transcripts usable by text‑to‑speech, captions, and translation tools
Accompanied by an alternative presentation of any non‑textual content
- Standard and extended audio descriptions available upon request
Requirements for user interface and functionality design
When video forms part of your product’s UI, the player must meet EAA UI and functionality standards. Wistia’s player fulfills these criteria.
When the product provides for communication, including interpersonal communication, operation, information, control, and orientation, it shall do so via more than one sensory channel; this shall include providing alternatives to vision, auditory, speech, and tactile elements.
- Auto‑generated transcripts and captions
- Translations, captions, and dubbing in over 70 languages
- Standard and extended audio descriptions (English only)
When the product uses visual elements, it shall provide for flexible magnification, brightness, and contrast for communication, information, and operation, as well as ensure interoperability with programmes and assistive devices to navigate the interface.
- Keyboard‑navigable player
- High‑contrast colors
- Clearly visible controls
When the product uses colour to convey information, indicate an action, require a response, or identify elements, it shall provide an alternative to colour.
- Accessibility checklist to verify color alternatives and control customization
When the product uses audible signals to convey information, indicate an action, require a response, or identify elements, it shall provide an alternative to audible signals.
- Editable transcripts that capture non‑speech audio, displayed in captions
When the product uses visual elements, it shall provide for flexible ways of improving vision clarity.
- Standard and extended audio descriptions available upon request