Disibility Rights Commission puts Record Straight about Website Accessibility Prosecutions

DRC legal director Nick O'Brien, has spoken out to quell press speculation over the scope of a future DRC investigation into website access.

Recent articles (see UN news story: New Media Age warns of Accessibility Deadlines) have claimed that a planned DRC investigation into web site access aimed to gather evidence against online service providers as the basis for taking legal action under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Mr O'Brien says this had created 'the misleading impression that a formal investigation by the Disability Rights Commission would be the prelude to impending legislation under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and a threat to the future existence of certain web sites.

'On the contrary, if the DRC does in fact announce a general investigation in this area it will be with the intention of working to identify good practice and to enable online service providers to eradicate bad practice with relative ease and minimum expense.'

Mr O’Brien concluded: 'A general investigation of this sort should therefore be seen as a constructive alternative to litigation and not as a device for 'naming and shaming' – something which the legislative framework effectively excludes.'

Associated Link: The activities of the DRC

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