The question of whether it is illegal to have an inaccessible website is a complex one. In the United States, there are no formal laws that enforce accessibility standards and guidelines for websites and web applications. This is because Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not define “public accommodation” to include websites.
However, this does not mean that having an inaccessible website is not a legal issue. In fact, there are a number of laws and regulations that can be used to hold companies accountable for not providing an accessible website. For example, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a number of guidance documents that provide guidance on how to make websites accessible. Additionally, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a number of rules that require websites to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Furthermore, there are a number of state and local laws that require websites to be accessible. For example, in California, the Unruh Civil Rights Act requires that all businesses provide “full and equal access” to their services, including websites. Additionally, the New York City Human Rights Law requires that all websites be accessible to people with disabilities.
In addition to legal requirements, there are also a number of industry standards and guidelines that companies should follow in order to ensure their websites are accessible. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is a set of standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides guidance on how to make websites accessible. Additionally, the U.S. Access Board has developed the Section 508 standards, which provide guidance on how to make websites accessible to people with disabilities.
Ultimately, while there are no formal laws that require websites to be accessible, there are a number of laws, regulations, and industry standards that companies should follow in order to ensure their websites are accessible. Failing to do so can result in legal action, as well as damage to a company’s reputation. Therefore, it is important for companies to take the necessary steps to ensure their websites are accessible to all users.