Sweden Web Accessibility Compliance

Sweden's web accessibility framework is built on EU-aligned national legislation:

• Lagen om tillgänglighet till digital offentlig service (DOS Act, 2018:1937): Sweden's implementation of the EU Web Accessibility Directive, requiring public sector websites and apps to meet WCAG 2.1 AA via EN 301 549
• Diskrimineringslagen (Discrimination Act, 2008:567): Prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, with accessibility requirements applicable to both public and private sector
• DIGG (Myndigheten för digital förvaltning): The Agency for Digital Government is the designated monitoring body for the DOS Act

Sweden has approximately 2.1 million people with functional impairments (roughly 20% of the population), making digital accessibility a significant social and economic priority. The country has a strong tradition of universal design in physical infrastructure and is extending these principles to digital services.

DIGG actively monitors Swedish public sector websites for DOS Act compliance:

• Automated monitoring: DIGG conducts large-scale automated scans of public sector websites, testing for common WCAG 2.1 AA violations
• In-depth reviews: Selected websites undergo manual expert review covering all WCAG criteria
• Published reports: Monitoring results are published, creating public accountability for non-compliant organizations
• Compliance orders: DIGG can issue orders (förelägganden) requiring organizations to remediate accessibility issues within specified timeframes

DIGG's monitoring has revealed that many Swedish public sector websites still fall short of full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, with the most common issues being insufficient color contrast, missing alt text, and unlabeled form fields — the same violations CompliScan's automated scanner detects.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been in force since June 28, 2025 across the EU, including Sweden. Sweden has implemented the EAA through national legislation that extends digital accessibility requirements to the private sector:

• E-commerce: All online shops must ensure accessible shopping experiences
• Banking services: Handelsbanken, SEB, Swedbank, Nordea, and other Swedish banks must ensure accessible digital banking
• Telecommunications: Telia, Tele2, and other carriers must provide accessible self-service platforms
• Transport: SJ, SL, and other transport operators must ensure accessible booking and information systems

Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees, less than EUR 2 million annual turnover) are exempt from service-related EAA requirements. The Swedish Consumer Agency (Konsumentverket) is expected to play a role in EAA enforcement alongside DIGG.

Start with a free CompliScan scan to identify WCAG 2.1 AA violations. Automated tools catch 30-40% of accessibility issues — the same violations DIGG's monitoring detects.

Sweden-specific compliance steps:

• Public sector (DOS Act): Publish an accessibility statement (tillgänglighetsredogörelse) and address issues identified in DIGG monitoring or self-assessment
• Private sector (EAA since June 2025): The EAA deadline has passed — begin WCAG 2.1 AA compliance work immediately if you have not already
• Accessibility statements: The DOS Act requires a detailed accessibility statement — CompliScan reports help identify issues to disclose
• Ongoing monitoring: CompliScan Shield ($49/mo) provides weekly scans to stay ahead of DIGG monitoring cycles

Shield Pro ($149/mo) adds daily scans and PDF reports for regulatory documentation. The Agency plan ($299/mo) covers up to 50 sites — ideal for Swedish digital agencies managing public sector and enterprise clients.