Compliance, in plain words.
Pinquin tests once against WCAG 2.2 AA, the standard behind Europe’s accessibility rules, and maps the result to the rules that apply where your users are.
Not legal advice. This page explains rules in plain words. Scopes and dates change, and whether a rule applies to you depends on your organisation, so check with a legal adviser. Last reviewed October 2026.
One standard underneath.
Most accessibility rules point to the same technical standard: the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG. Level AA is the level the rules ask for.
WCAG 2.2 AA
55 success criteria at level A and AA, covering how content is perceived, operated, understood and read by assistive technology. Pinquin tests against all of them.
EN 301 549
The European standard for accessible ICT. Version 4.1.1, published in September 2026, is based on WCAG 2.2 AA and also covers documents, software and more. It gives legal certainty under the European Accessibility Act once it is cited in the EU’s Official Journal, which is expected around the end of 2026.
Where your users are
Which rules apply follows where your customers and users are, not where your data is stored. One test can be read against several sets of rules.
EAA
European Accessibility Act
Since 28 June 2025, many products and services sold to consumers in the EU must be accessible.
- Who it covers
- Businesses offering consumers services such as e-commerce, consumer banking, e-books, electronic communications, audiovisual media and passenger transport (websites, apps and e-tickets), plus products such as computers, phones, self-service terminals and e-readers.
- Exemption
- Microenterprises providing services, meaning fewer than 10 people and annual turnover or balance sheet of €2 million or less, are exempt from the service requirements.
- What it asks for
- Accessible websites, apps and documents that are part of the service, and information on how the service meets the requirements.
- Who enforces it
- Each EU country, through its own market surveillance authority.
WAD
Web Accessibility Directive
Public sector bodies in the EU must make their websites and mobile apps accessible.
- Who it covers
- Public sector bodies, such as authorities, municipalities, regions and many publicly funded organisations.
- What it asks for
- Websites and apps that meet EN 301 549, a published accessibility statement, and a way for people to report problems and ask for content in an accessible form.
- Who checks
- Each EU country monitors public sector websites and apps and reports to the European Commission.
Outside the EU
Pinquin maps the same results to the main rules in the United States and Canada.
| Rule | Who it covers | In short |
|---|---|---|
| ADA Title III | US businesses open to the public | Courts and settlements usually point to WCAG AA for websites and apps. |
| ADA Title II | US state and local government | A federal rule sets WCAG 2.1 AA. Deadlines: 26 April 2027 for larger entities (50,000 people or more), 26 April 2028 for smaller ones. |
| Section 508 | US federal agencies and what they buy | Vendors are often asked for an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR), based on the VPAT template. |
| AODA | Ontario public sector and organisations with 50 or more employees | Public websites must meet WCAG 2.0 AA. |
| Accessible Canada Act | Federally regulated organisations in Canada | Accessibility plans, feedback processes and progress reports. |
What Pinquin does, and doesn’t do.
Pinquin
- Tests your channels continuously against WCAG 2.2 AA.
- Maps each result to the rules that apply where your users are.
- Keeps a record of what was tested, when, and what verified each fix.
- Says plainly what it couldn’t test.
Pinquin doesn’t
- Decide whether a rule applies to you, or whether you’re exempt.
- Prove full conformance. No automated tool can.
- Replace legal advice or an expert audit.
When you need an expert’s judgment, such as an audit or a conformance report, accessibility experts can work from the evidence Pinquin already holds.
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