Fined by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). accessiBeThe screen, which claims to make websites more compatible with screen readers, relies on the blind to access the Internet. We rely on using the Internet for compensating reviewers without disclosing that they support false advertising and reviews.
According to the proposed order, the FTC need accessiBe will pay $1 million, which can be used to refund the company's customers, and prohibit accessiBe from overstating the capabilities of its tools. The order will also mandate that accessiBe “clearly and unambiguously highlight” links to its services to supporters.
“Companies looking for help making their websites (accessible) compliant must be able to trust that products do what they are advertised to do,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement. “Exaggerating a product's … capabilities without sufficient evidence can be misleading, and the FTC will work to stop it.”
New York-based accessiBe sells an AI-powered plug-in that it says can make any website compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). The company offers its services as a shield for non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects people with disabilities from discrimination.
Entrepreneurs Dekel Skoop; Founded in 2018 by Gal Vizel and Shir Ekerling, accessiBe raised $58.5 million in investment from investors including Los Angeles-based private equity firm K1. At one point, accessiBe's clients include Pillsbury, Benadryl, Playmobil This includes government agencies such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Louisiana Department of Health.
But many advocacy groups and customers say accessiBe's products don't work.
Devices like accessiBe's can prevent screen-reading applications used by blind and visually impaired users from reading pages on websites correctly — and even make some webpages inaccessible. There are customers. sued. accessiBe in a class action alleging that the company's products failed to make their websites fully compliant with ADA standards.
During its 2021 convention; The National Federation of the Blind described accessiBe's marketing and business practices as “disrespectful and deceptive”. In the same year, 400 blind people Supporters and developers have signed on for accessibility. Open letter Companies using automated services such as accessiBe have been asked to stop.
In 2021, more than 400 companies that placed an accessibility widget or overlay on their website were sued over accessibility. Rate Digital accessibility provider UsableNet.
accessiBe is not the only vendor that sells automated accessibility tools for websites. But done Accused. accessibility community and “defense”; About adopting a dismissive style of engagement—and making lofty demands.
According to the FTC, accessiBe not only broke its promises to customers; Engage in deceptive marketing. The agency said in a statement that accessiBe was “fraudulently formatted” to appear like the independent opinions of unbiased writers and failed to disclose “material links” to objective reviewers.
The FTC's order, which was unanimously approved by the FTC's five commissioners, will be subject to public comment for 30 days, after which the commission will make a final decision.
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