Regulations

This website provides information about § 18 in the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act and the regulations that legislate universal design of information and communication technology (ICT) in Norway. The regulations have been prepared by the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation.

Requirements in the regulation

The requirements are relevant for businesses in the private sector, organisations, and public sector bodies. They are applicable to websites, mobile applications and self-service machines. The use of social media, such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter, for non-commercial purposes are not covered by the regulations.

Universal design means "designing, or accommodating, the main solution with regards to physical conditions, so that the solution may be used by as many people as possible," regardless of disability.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level AA is the standard for the universal design of websites. There are some exceptions regarding time-based media: 1.2.3 Audio Description or Media Alternative (Prerecorded content), 1.2.4 Captions (Live content) and 1.2.5 Audio Description (Prerecorded content)

See W3C's website about WCAG 2.0.

There are ten international standards for the universal design of self-service machines:

CEN/TS 15291:2006 - Identification Card Systems: - Man-machine interface: Technical Specification: Guidance on design of accessible card systems.
NS-EN 1332-1:2009 - Identification card systems - Man-machine interface - Part 1: Design principles for the user interface.
NS-EN 1332-2:1998 - Identification Card Systems: - Man-machine interface Part 2: Dimensions and location of a tactile identifier for ID-1 cards.
NS-EN 1332-3:2008 - Identification Card Systems: - Man-machine interface Part 3: Keypads (Withdrawn, replaced by NS-EN 1332-3:2020).
NS-EN 1332-4:2007 - Identification Card Systems: - Man-machine interface Part 4: Coding of user requirements for people with special needs.
NS-EN 1332-5:2006 - Identification Card Systems: - Man-machine interface Part 5: Raised tactile symbols for differentiation of application on ID-1 cards.
NS-EN ISO 9241-20:2009 - Ergonomics of human-system interaction -- Part 20: Accessibility guidelines for information/communication technology (ICT) equipment and services (Withdrawn, replaced by NS-EN ISO 9241-20:2021).
ISO 20282-1:2006 - Ease of operation of everyday products -- Part 1: Context of use and user characteristics.
ISO/TS 20282-2:2006 - Ease of operation of everyday products -- Part 2: Test method (Withdrawn, replaced by ISO/TS 20282-2:2013).
ISO/TR 22411:2008 - Ergonomics data and guidelines for the application of ISO/IEC Guide 71 to products and services to address the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities (Withdrawn, replaced by ISO/TR 22411:2021).

Timeline

The regulations were approved 21 June 2013 and took effect 1 July 2013. This means that new ICT solutions should be universally designed from 1 July 2014. Existing ICT solutions should be universally designed from 2021.

Supervisory authority

The Norwegian Digitalisation Agency is responsible for monitoring whether the regulations will be met. The Digitalisation Agency, represented by the Authority for Universal Design of ICT, supervise the regulations. Information and guidance work is one of the main tasks for the authority. Our vision is a society without digital barriers.

Guidance and information

The Authority works with guidance and information. On our website, you can see our suggestions on how to meet the requirements for web solutions and apps and how to meet each requirement in WCAG. Both are still in Norwegian only.