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Additional principles for providers to consider Accessibility principle
What is accessibility?
4.62The Act sets out that in recommending the use of age assurance, or which kinds of age
assurance to recommend, Ofcom must have regard to the principles that age assurance
should:
• be easy to use, including by children of different ages and with different needs;32 and
• work effectively for all users regardless of their characteristics or whether they are
members of a certain group.33
4.63We refer to these principles collectively using the term accessibility.
Why is accessibility important?
4.64Age assurance processes that are inaccessible either because they are complex, are less
accurate for users with different characteristics, or include requirements that certain
groups of users are unable to fulfil, may result in users being unable to access a service that
they should otherwise be able to use.
4.65To enhance accessibility, it is also important that service providers explain to users what the
age assurance process is designed to do and how it works, so that users can understand
why it is necessary and how to complete the process.
How can service providers have regard to accessibility when implementing age
assurance?
4.66It is for service providers to consider what steps are most appropriate for their service to
take to ensure their age assurance process is accessible. Examples of practical steps to
improve accessibility could include:
• Assessing the impact that the age assurance process might have on users sharing
protected characteristics and including details of this assessment in the written record.
• Offering more than one age assurance method to assist users who may be unable to, or
may find it more difficult to, use certain kinds of age assurance.34
• Designing the user journey through the age assurance process to be accessible for a
wide range of abilities. This might include, for instance, ensuring that users with visual
impairments are able to use screen readers to complete the age assurance process, or
32 The Act, Schedule 4, paragraph 12(2)(e).
33 The Act, Schedule 4, paragraph 12(2)(f).
34 For example, those without credit cards will be unable to complete a credit card check. Those without a
driving licence or passport will be unable to undergo a photo-ID check that relies on these documents.
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ensuring that all functionality is available from a keyboard for users with limited motor
control.
• Making information about the age assurance process available in the form of a pop up
prior to completing the age check, for example, as a smaller, new window that appears
overlayed on top of the webpage, drawing the user’s attention. The text could be
included in this window, or the pop up could feature a button prompting users to click
for more information.35
4.67The Web Accessibility Initiative’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provide
recommendations for how service providers can make services more accessible to disabled
people.36
Full captured verbatim text
What is accessibility? 4.62 The Act sets out that in recommending the use of age assurance, or which kinds of age assurance to recommend, Ofcom must have regard to the principles that age assurance should: • be easy to use, including by children of different ages and with different needs;32 and • work effectively for all users regardless of their characteristics or whether they are members of a certain group.33 4.63 We refer to these principles collectively using the term accessibility. Why is accessibility important? 4.64 Age assurance processes that are inaccessible either because they are complex, are less accurate for users with different characteristics, or include requirements that certain groups of users are unable to fulfil, may result in users being unable to access a service that they should otherwise be able to use. 4.65 To enhance accessibility, it is also important that service providers explain to users what the age assurance process is designed to do and how it works, so that users can understand why it is necessary and how to complete the process. How can service providers have regard to accessibility when implementing age assurance? 4.66 It is for service providers to consider what steps are most appropriate for their service to take to ensure their age assurance process is accessible. Examples of practical steps to improve accessibility could include: • Assessing the impact that the age assurance process might have on users sharing protected characteristics and including details of this assessment in the written record. • Offering more than one age assurance method to assist users who may be unable to, or may find it more difficult to, use certain kinds of age assurance.34 • Designing the user journey through the age assurance process to be accessible for a wide range of abilities. This might include, for instance, ensuring that users with visual impairments are able to use screen readers to complete the age assurance process, or 32 The Act, Schedule 4, paragraph 12(2)(e). 33 The Act, Schedule 4, paragraph 12(2)(f). 34 For example, those without credit cards will be unable to complete a credit card check. Those without a driving licence or passport will be unable to undergo a photo-ID check that relies on these documents. 20 ensuring that all functionality is available from a keyboard for users with limited motor control. • Making information about the age assurance process available in the form of a pop up prior to completing the age check, for example, as a smaller, new window that appears overlayed on top of the webpage, drawing the user’s attention. The text could be included in this window, or the pop up could feature a button prompting users to click for more information.35 4.67 The Web Accessibility Initiative’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines provide recommendations for how service providers can make services more accessible to disabled people.36