Website Compliance Lawsuits Are Rising Across the U.S.
Businesses across the country are facing a sharp increase in lawsuits tied to website compliance issues. In fact, thousands of digital accessibility lawsuits are filed every year, with 8,667 ADA Title III Federal Lawsuits filed in 2025 alone, targeting websites and mobile apps that fail to meet accessibility standards.
Many of these cases involve accessibility barriers for individuals with disabilities, but compliance concerns now extend far beyond that. Today, websites are also being scrutinized for privacy disclosures, cookie tracking, data collection practices, and age-restricted content.
For many organizations, these lawsuits come as a surprise. The website may have been built years ago, or compliance standards may have evolved since the last redesign. Because most digital regulations apply based on where the website visitor is located, businesses can be exposed to laws from multiple states or countries without realizing it.
Understanding why these lawsuits are increasing and how to proactively address compliance can help protect both your business and your customers.
Why Website Compliance Lawsuits Are Increasing Now
Legal precedent has expanded greatly since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990. Courts increasingly interpret the law to apply to digital experiences when they serve the public. Many new laws have also been introduced, including the DOJ ADA Web Accessibility Rule in 2024, TAKE IT DOWN Act in 2025, Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (“MODPA”) in 2025, data privacy laws on the state level in 2025, and age verification laws on the state level from 2022 to pending bills for 2026. While these laws are still evolving, they signal a broader trend that governments are taking a more active role in regulating digital experiences.
Three main factors drive recent surge in website compliance claims:
1.) Compliance Issues Are Easier to Identify
Technology has made it much easier to detect website compliance issues. Automated tools can now scan thousands of websites for potential accessibility violations such as missing image descriptions, navigation barriers, or improper page structure. This has allowed attorneys and advocacy groups to identify non-compliant websites more quickly and at scale.
2.) Privacy and Data Regulations Are Expanding
Many websites use cookies and tracking tools to collect analytics, personalize content, or support digital advertising. Regulations increasingly require businesses to clearly disclose these practices and allow users to manage consent. Failure to properly disclose data collection or obtain user permission can expose companies to regulatory action or legal complaints.
3.) Age Verification and Online Safety Laws Are Emerging
Lawmakers are also paying closer attention to how websites handle age-restricted content and interactions with minors. Several states have introduced or enacted laws requiring certain websites to verify that users meet minimum age requirements before accessing specific content. Other legislation focuses on how platforms collect data from minors or require parental consent for certain online activities.
The Most Common Types of Website Compliance Lawsuits
1.) Accessibility Lawsuits
Typically argue that a website violates disability protections because users who rely on assistive technology cannot access key functions. Common accessibility barriers include alt text, keyboard navigation, text contrast, screen reader compatibility, and captions. These issues can prevent users with visual, auditory, or mobility impairments from fully engaging with digital content.
2.) Cookie and Data Privacy Violations
Websites that collect user data through cookies or tracking technologies must clearly disclose those practices. Compliance expectations may include transparent privacy policies, cookie consent notices, and the ability for users to manage or opt out of tracking. As privacy regulations expand across multiple states and regions, businesses must ensure their data collection practices are clearly communicated and responsibly managed.
3.) Age-Restricted or Sensitive Content
Certain types of content may require additional safeguards to prevent access by minors. Regulations in some jurisdictions require websites hosting adult or age-sensitive material to implement age verification or similar controls. While not every business is affected, organizations hosting sensitive content should understand the evolving regulatory landscape.
4.) Children’s Data and Online Safety
Some emerging laws focus specifically on protecting children’s online experiences. These regulations may limit how companies collect data from minors, require parental consent for certain services, or mandate stronger protections for younger users. Although many of these laws are still being debated or challenged, they highlight how quickly digital compliance expectations are evolving.
What Happens If a Business Receives a Website Compliance Claim?
Website compliance complaints often begin with a legal demand letter rather than an immediate lawsuit. Addressing issues proactively is almost always faster, less expensive, and less disruptive than responding after a claim is filed.
In many cases, businesses are asked to address accessibility barriers or other compliance issues within a specific timeframe. Some claims also involve settlement requests or legal fees.
For companies caught off guard, responding to a complaint can require:
- Legal consultation
- Website remediation
- Redesign or development updates
- Compliance
- Documentation
How Businesses Should Respond
For organizations that haven’t reviewed their website compliance recently, taking proactive steps now can significantly reduce risk.
- Don’t Ignore the Issue: Compliance concerns rarely resolve themselves. Ignoring accessibility or privacy issues can increase both legal exposure and customer frustration.
- Evaluate Your Website: The first step is understanding whether your website has potential compliance gaps. This often involves a website compliance audit to identify accessibility barriers, data transparency issues, or structural problems within the site.
- Address Accessibility and Privacy Issues: Once issues are identified, updates may include improving image descriptions and navigation structure, adding captions to videos and transcripts to audio content, improving color contrast and readability, implementing or updating cookie consent tools, or clarifying privacy policies and data collection disclosures. These improvements often enhance usability for all visitors, not just those with accessibility needs.
- Build Compliance Into Future Updates: Website compliance is not a one-time project. As technology and regulations evolve, businesses should incorporate accessibility and privacy best practices into ongoing website management and updates.
- Seek an Expert: our team at Strategic Factory can help your business evaluate its website, identify compliance gaps, and implement improvements that strengthen accessibility, privacy practices, and overall user experience.
How to Audit Your Website for Compliance
A professional website compliance audit provides a comprehensive view of potential vulnerabilities. Typical audits evaluate areas such as accessibility standards based on WCAG guidelines, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation functionality, page structure and heading hierarchy, multimedia accessibility, cookie tracking and consent systems, and form usability and error messaging. This process helps businesses identify potential issues before they become legal risks.
How Strategic Factory Helps Businesses Stay Ahead
At Strategic Factory, we help organizations design and maintain websites that are modern, accessible, and built with compliance in mind. Our team works with brands across industries to create digital experiences that prioritize:
- Accessibility and inclusive design
- Clear data transparency
- Strong user experience
- Scalable website architecture
Planning a website redesign?
Or do you just want to ensure your current site meets modern accessibility guidelines?
Our team is here to help guide the process.
