EAA, GDPR & web videos: Ignite’s take on accessibility and where companies still struggle, discussed at Bitkom.
In March 2025, we had the opportunity to present our approach to web video accessibility at the Bitkom Accessibility "Working Group". This group brings together accessibility experts, which is both a challenge and a great opportunity to learn and share.
Our contribution: Accessibility goes beyond compliance
We discussed how the European Accessiblity ACT (EAA) and GDPR often reach their limits, especially when it comes to consent banners and two-click solutions that force users into permanent consent.
Our insights: What accessibility should look like in practice
- Technology: The technical basics are feasible and documented in WCAG, but implementation with standard video players such as Chrome and Safari remains a challenge. Simply embedding an MP4 file on a website is rarely a long-term or user-friendly accessibility solution.
- UX & Design: Many basics can be implemented, but the inconsistency between different video players makes navigation difficult for people with disabilities. We use the biggest players on the market. Additional barriers such as overlays, pop-ups and dark patterns only make things worse.
- Content & Processes: The most critical point. Videos need to be made accessible proactively — not just by the BFSG deadline. While captions and transcriptions help, accessibility starts at the conceptual stage, long before a video goes live.
One clear takeaway from the discussion was that the EAA is just the beginning — true accessibility goes far beyond simply ticking compliance boxes.
Accessibility as an ongoing process
True accessibility is an ongoing process that goes beyond legal requirements.
We are committed to using the lessons learned from this exchange to further improve the web experience and promote inclusion. Open and honest discussion is essential to us. Our video player is EAA compliant and offers many accessibility features. If you are customising the design, we provide a guide to accessibility contrast levels. However, there are many specific requirements that may require bespoke solutions.
Bitkom members can download the slides from our session in the member portal (AK Accessibility section). Everyone else can reach out via our contact form.
Video-Hosting in Europe
To empower brands to realize the full potential of their video content, we made video hosting & streaming cookie- and consent-free. GDPR-compliant, hosted in Europe & easy to integrate. Made for Europe.