At the Privacy Laws & Business 38th International Conference in Cambridge, John O’Brien, Head of Legal (Data Protection), Revolut, UK; Praveeta Thayalan, Knowledge Lawyer, RPC; and Jon Bartley, Partner, RPC, UK discussed the data protection aspects of the European Accessibility Act(1) (EAA) intended to improve accessibility for disabled persons to products and services.

Bartley, the session chair, said that the EAA, adopted in 2019, had entered into force on 28 June 2025. Although an EU law, UK companies can also be caught due to its extra-territorial effect.

Bartley explained that the Act introduces bans on products that do not comply. Issuing penalties is left to Member States and harmonised standards are expected to be produced by recognised European Standards Organisations, CEN, CENELEC, or ETSI .