StreamZilla
StreamZilla Guide
The European Accessibility Act and video
What your videos and your player need.
The European Accessibility Act, Directive (EU) 2019/882, applies since 28 June 2025 to a wide range of products and services offered to consumers in the EU, including e-commerce, banking and electronic communication. Public bodies were already covered by the Web Accessibility Directive.
Both lead to the same standard, EN 301 549, which builds on WCAG. For video, that means requirements for the content and for the player.
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Requirements for the content
- Captions for prerecorded video with audio (WCAG 1.2.2, level A).
- Audio description where the visuals carry information that the audio does not (WCAG 1.2.5, level AA).
- A transcript helps everyone who prefers reading, and is required for audio-only content.
Requirements for the player
- Every control operable by keyboard, with visible focus.
- Controls with accessible names for screen readers.
- Sufficient contrast, and captions that can be enlarged.
- No autoplay with sound that cannot be stopped.
How StreamZilla helps
StreamZilla creates subtitles and a transcript automatically for every video, delivers them as segmented WebVTT, and plays them in a player built to WCAG 2.2 AA, with keyboard operation, enlargeable subtitles and a high-contrast mode. Read more about our accessible video player.
Frequently asked questions
Does the EAA apply to my organisation?
It applies to many businesses offering products and services to consumers in the EU since 28 June 2025, with exemptions for micro-enterprises providing services. Public bodies are covered by the Web Accessibility Directive.
Are automatic subtitles enough?
They are the fastest way to meet the caption requirement, but check them for accuracy, especially names and jargon.
Sources
- Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2
- ETSI: EN 301 549, accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
Read more
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