Study

2026 study: 94.5% of analysed major French e-commerce sites have detectable accessibility defects

We analysed the homepage of major French e-commerce brands with our automated engine. Of 55 analysable sites, 52 show at least one critical or serious non-conformity. Figures, most frequent defects and full methodology.

Figures, methodology and reuse terms: see the citable data →

The European Accessibility Act has applied to e-commerce since 28 June 2025. One year on, where do major French brands stand? We ran the homepage of a panel of 102 major brands through our automated analysis engine (real browser + automatically testable WCAG rules). The result: of the 55 sites whose page could be analysed, 94.5% show at least one critical or serious non-conformity.

Key figures

• 94.5% of analysed sites (52 of 55) show at least one critical or serious non-conformity on their homepage.
• 70.9% (39 of 55) show at least one critical non-conformity, the most severe level.
• Only 3 sites out of 55 (5.5%) pass the analysis with no critical or serious defect.
• Average score: 52.6 out of 100 (median: 55). Scores range from 0 to 100.
• On average, 34 failing elements (critical or serious) per homepage: 545 critical and 1,345 serious in total across 55 pages.

The most frequent defects

Methodology

Panel: 102 major e-commerce brands operating in France, all sectors (generalists, fashion, tech, home, beauty, food, DIY, auto, pets, toys), assembled in July 2026. Test: each site's homepage, analysed on 10 July 2026 by our engine (real browser + automatically testable WCAG 2.x rules, axe-core engine). 47 sites were excluded from the results: their page refused the automated browser (anti-bot blocking) or returned an error at test time. The figures therefore cover the 55 sites actually analysed. No site is named: the goal is the overall picture, not a pillory.

Important: automated analysis only covers part of the accessibility criteria (a complete check requires manual testing). The figures above are therefore a floor: a site with no automatically detected defect is not necessarily compliant. Conversely, a detected non-conformity does not, on its own, prove an infringement: the exact legal scope is assessed service by service. Informational content, not legal advice.

What this study says about the market

One year after the EAA became applicable, the overwhelming majority of major brands still carry basic, measurable accessibility defects on their main storefront: contrast, link names, image alternatives. These are precisely the simplest defects to fix, and the first ones affected users run into. Another lesson: nearly half of the panel blocks automated browsers, a reminder that no automated tool replaces a complete approach: analysis, fixes at the source, an honest statement and continuous monitoring.

For e-merchants: where to start

Measure first: a scan gives you your score and priority defects in seconds. Then fix critical and serious issues, often quick to address. Publish an honest accessibility statement, then monitor continuously to avoid regressions. Our guides detail every step, the deadlines and the penalties by country.