· Compliance · 3 min read
European Accessibility Act: Audio Description Compliance
The European Accessibility Act took effect in June 2025. Here is what media companies and broadcasters need to know about audio description compliance, penalties, and how to prepare.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force on June 28, 2025, and it fundamentally changes the accessibility obligations for media companies operating in the European Union. If your organization produces, distributes, or streams audiovisual content in the EU, audio description is no longer optional — it is a legal requirement.
What Is the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA (Directive 2019/882) is a landmark EU directive that establishes common accessibility requirements for products and services across all 27 member states. For the media industry, it means that audiovisual media services — including streaming platforms, video-on-demand services, and broadcast content — must be accessible to people with disabilities.
Audio description (AD) is explicitly covered under the EAA as a key accessibility feature for people who are blind or have low vision. Unlike previous directives that focused primarily on public sector websites, the EAA applies to private sector organizations providing services to consumers.
Who Does the EAA Apply To?
The EAA applies to any business that:
- Provides audiovisual media services in the EU
- Operates a video-on-demand or streaming platform accessible to EU consumers
- Distributes content through electronic communication services
- Manufactures or sells media playback devices
This includes major streaming platforms, national broadcasters, regional content distributors, and even educational institutions offering video content to EU audiences.
Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees, turnover under EUR 2 million) are exempt, but this exemption does not apply if they operate as part of a larger group.
What Are the Audio Description Requirements?
Under the EAA, audiovisual media services must provide:
- Audio description for pre-recorded content: Visual information must be conveyed through spoken descriptions inserted in natural pauses in the dialogue.
- Accessible user interfaces: Media players and apps must be navigable via assistive technologies.
- Information about accessibility features: Platforms must clearly communicate which content has AD available.
The specific percentage of content requiring AD varies by member state, as each country transposes the directive into national law. However, the trend is toward increasing requirements over time.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Member states set their own enforcement mechanisms, but penalties can be severe:
- Fines up to EUR 1,000,000 in some jurisdictions
- Market surveillance actions that can restrict product or service availability
- Consumer complaints that trigger investigations
- Reputational damage in an increasingly accessibility-aware market
How AI Audio Description Can Help
Traditional audio description is expensive ($15–50 per finished minute) and slow (weeks of turnaround). For organizations facing the EAA mandate, the math simply does not work when applied to entire content libraries.
AI-powered audio description offers a viable path to compliance:
- Speed: Generate AD in hours rather than weeks
- Scale: Process entire content libraries, not just new releases
- Cost: Reduce per-minute costs by 80–90%
- Multi-language: Generate AD in multiple EU languages simultaneously
- Consistency: Maintain quality standards across large volumes of content
Steps to Prepare
- Audit your content library: Identify how much of your content currently has AD and how much needs it.
- Understand your national requirements: Check how your country has transposed the EAA.
- Evaluate AD solutions: Compare traditional services versus AI-powered solutions for scale and cost.
- Prioritize high-traffic content: Start with your most-watched content and work backward.
- Document your compliance efforts: Keep records of your accessibility improvements for regulatory purposes.
The Bottom Line
The EAA is not a future concern — it is the law today. Media companies that act now will avoid penalties, serve a wider audience, and position themselves as leaders in accessibility. Those that delay risk fines, legal action, and losing viewers to competitors who offer accessible content.
AI-powered audio description makes compliance at scale achievable for the first time.