By 2026, mobile apps aren’t “extensions” of a brand — they are the brand. And as global enforcement around accessibility tightens, companies are learning an uncomfortable truth: a sleek interface no longer protects them from legal action.
With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) approaching full enforcement and ADA Title III lawsuits surging year over year, accessibility has shifted from a UX consideration to a legal and operational requirement.
This post breaks down what’s happening, what’s at stake, and how to build a proactive mobile accessibility strategy that protects both your users and your brand.
Let’s start with the numbers — because they tell the story better than anyone.
In 2025 alone, 3,948 ADA digital accessibility lawsuits were filed, a 23.84% increase over 2024. New York, Florida, and California accounted for over 72% of these filings.
The momentum isn’t slowing. Mid‑2025 projections showed a 20% overall increase in ADA digital lawsuits, including both websites and mobile apps. [newswire.com]
Legal pressure is intensifying across Europe as well. The EAA’s 2025–2026 compliance phase is pushing organizations to bring apps, websites, and digital services into WCAG alignment — not “eventually,” but now.
This is where legal debt enters the picture — the hidden cost of correcting accessibility violations after a lawsuit or complaint. And like all debt, the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes.
A proactive mobile accessibility test strategy is no longer optional — it’s essential.
The truth is simple: automated scanners catch only about 30–40% of accessibility issues. The rest require context, usability testing, and human understanding.
Here’s what real compliance‑oriented testing looks like today:
Automated tools detect foundational issues — missing alt text, poor contrast, unlabeled icons. They’re valuable, but incomplete.
And relying on overlays or widgets has proven ineffective: 24.9% of 2025 accessibility lawsuits targeted websites using accessibility widgets — a clear signal that quick fixes don’t prevent litigation.
Courts and plaintiffs focus heavily on whether blind or low‑vision users can actually navigate your app.
That’s why meaningful testing includes:
Recent litigation highlights issues like:
In fact, one case forced a retailer into a $50,000 settlement because the checkout wasn’t screen‑reader compatible.
WCAG guidelines now require:
Mobile lawsuits increasingly cite issues like tiny buttons, multi‑finger gestures, or impossible-to-use forms for motor-impaired users. These are no longer small oversights — they’re legal liabilities.
Here’s what recent lawsuits show:
Retail e‑commerce app
Issue: Screen reader users couldn’t complete checkout
Result: $50,000 settlement + mandatory remediation
Education platform
Issue: Videos lacked captions
Result: $25,000 settlement and accessibility review
Hospitality mobile app
Issue: Booking navigation not keyboard‑ or gesture‑accessible
Result: Out-of-court settlement, full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance required
And behind every case lies one repeated message:
Mobile apps are legally treated as “places of public accommodation.” If a customer can’t book, buy, or browse, your app can be considered discriminatory under ADA Title III.
Running an audit is the easy part.
Knowing what to fix first — that’s where teams stall.
Many organizations experience Audit Fatigue: a 200‑item PDF with no prioritization or developer-friendly guidance. That’s how issues linger for months… or forever.
At Corpowid, we’ve seen this pattern repeat across industries. The bottleneck isn’t awareness — it’s workflow and clarity.
Going beyond compliance carries real business value:
Accessible design makes navigation intuitive — for everyone.
High‑performing, structured, metadata‑clean apps are favored by search algorithms and store rankings.
Failing to build for users with disabilities means turning away a massive customer base.
With lawsuits projected to increase another 20% in 2025, proactive testing is your cheapest insurance. [newswire.com]
With 2,019 ADA lawsuits filed in just the first half of 2025, momentum is only growing. [newswire.com]
The time for “we didn’t know” has officially expired.
A proactive, continuous mobile accessibility testing strategy isn’t just smart — it’s the only sustainable approach for brands that want to stay compliant, competitive, and trusted.
If this all feels like a lot to keep track of… you’re right.
But that’s exactly why we built Corpowid AI.
Here’s how we make mobile accessibility compliance simple:
We detect WCAG 2.2 issues with automated + AI‑assisted logic designed specifically for mobile apps.
We test with VoiceOver and TalkBack to catch the issues scanners miss.
Findings go directly into your workflow (Jira, GitHub, Asana, Linear) with actionable code‑level suggestions.
Every update you release is automatically checked for regressions — no more last‑minute surprises.
Want human guidance? We step in with reviews, remediation support, and strategy audits.
If you're ready to get ahead of EAA and ADA compliance, we’re here to help.
Just say, “I want to check my app’s accessibility,” and we’ll take care of the rest.
The digital world is no longer just at our fingertips; it lives right in the palm of our hands. As of 2026, the data paints a very clear picture: users spend approximately 94% of their digital time directly within mobile apps rather than mobile browsers.
Mobile apps are no longer “nice‑to‑have” extensions of a website. They’re the primary way millions of people access services—everything from healthcare to banking. That’s exactly why accessibility has shifted from an ethical conversation to a legal and usability requirement.
Every year, the web gets a little more competitive — and a lot more complicated. By 2026, a website is no longer just a place where people learn about your brand. It’s your storefront, your communication hub, your accessibility gateway, and the very place search engines evaluate to decide whether you matter.
TR
