Act No. 99/2019 Coll. – Website and Mobile Application Accessibility (Czech Republic)
What Is This Law About?
Act No. 99/2019 Coll. is a Czech law that ensures websites and mobile applications are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. It requires public sector organizations to make their digital content easy to use for individuals with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive impairments.
This law is based on the EU Web Accessibility Directive (2016/2102), which sets common accessibility standards across Europe.
Key Requirements in Simple Terms
1. Accessible Websites & Apps – Public sector websites and mobile apps must follow accessibility standards, such as:
- Text alternatives for images (so screen readers can describe them).
- Keyboard navigation (for people who can’t use a mouse).
- Clear headings and readable fonts (for better readability).
- Captions or transcripts for videos (for deaf or hard-of-hearing users).
2. Accessibility Statement – Organizations must publish an accessibility statement on their website, explaining:
- Which parts of the site meet accessibility standards.
- Any areas that are not fully accessible and why.
- Contact details to report accessibility problems.
3. Compliance Deadlines
- New websites (created after September 23, 2018) had to comply by September 23, 2019.
- Older websites (created before September 23, 2018) had to comply by September 23, 2020.
- Mobile applications had to comply by June 23, 2021.
Why Is This Important?
This law helps ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access essential public services online—like government forms, health information, and education resources.
Based on the Official Document
This explanation is based on the official text of Act No. 99/2019 Coll. and the EU Web Accessibility Directive. For more details, you can read the full document here:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/CS/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:72016L2102CZE_271811&from=EN