BFSG comes into effect soon
The countdown is on. Starting June 28, 2025, the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG) comes into effect. It requires numerous companies to design their digital products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. Anyone offering websites, apps, or digital services can no longer ignore this topic. The requirements are clearly defined – and the deadline is approaching.
Not sure if your company and the services offered fall under the BFSG? Take the test here.
What the BFSG regulates – a brief overview
The law implements the EU directive on accessibility requirements for products and services. It applies to companies above a certain size that offer digital products or services to end customers. The goal is to ensure uniform accessible design – and thus secure equal participation for all user groups.
Digital accessibility in practice
Accessibility means, among other things: clear contrasts, simple keyboard operation, readability by screen readers, and user-friendly language.
A service is accessible when it can be found, accessed, and used by people with disabilities in the generally usual way, without particular difficulty and generally without outside help.
For many people with limitations, these criteria are not comfort features, but essential access requirements. Digital participation affects millions – and is increasingly perceived as a quality feature.
These requirements are coming for companies
Starting summer 2025, affected companies must prove that their digital offerings meet the standards. The technical criteria are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These include:
- Operability without mouse
- Sufficient color contrasts
- Alt texts for visual content
- Clear, simple language
In addition, there are requirements for traceability, documentation, and support. Companies must therefore be able to demonstrate how they implement accessibility and provide appropriate help when questions or problems arise. Violations can result in warnings.
The moinAI chat widget: Standard security out of the box
Modern websites today often include interactive chat offerings – whether in the form of live chats or AI-based chatbots. These usually appear as a so-called chat widget at the bottom of the screen. This element must also be designed to be accessible. The moinAI chat widget is optimized according to the criteria of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to enable equivalent use for all user groups.
moinAI reacted early and consistently aligned its chat widget with WCAG criteria. This means specifically:
- Readability: Font size, contrast, and structure are clearly designed.
- Keyboard operation: The chat is completely usable without a mouse.
- Screen reader compatibility: Content is cleanly read aloud.
Companies using moinAI have additional tools in the Hub (the user-friendly backend of the chatbot) to independently check and improve accessibility:
- Images, slides, and videos can be provided with alt texts. These describe visual content and ensure that users with visual impairments can capture the information via screen readers.
- A contrast check verifies whether color requirements are met. High contrasts are important so that texts remain easily readable even with impaired vision.
- The chatbot's content can be formulated in simple language – this helps people with cognitive limitations, language barriers, or low reading skills better understand the content.
1. The chatbot name now appears above each message.
2. Alt text for visual content is possible.
3. The AI indicator has been redesigned.
More about the current moinAI updates regarding the BFSG can be found in the blog article: "The BFSG and the new moinAI chat widget".
Conclusion: Think and act digitally accessible
The BFSG represents a binding standard that specifically requires the accessible design of interactive elements such as chatbots and chat widgets. Companies are obligated to develop their offerings so that they are accessible to all people. Those who act in time not only ensure compliance with legal requirements but also demonstrate values.
moinAI supports this path with a BFSG-compliant chat widget and practical tools for optimization. For companies, this means: clear legal compliance with low implementation effort – and a contribution to genuine digital participation.
