The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on April 22, 2025, that it has approved a settlement entered into a Final Order with accessiBe, which claimed its plug-in product, accessWidget, “can make any website compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).” The settlement includes the payment of $1 million and requires accessiBe to refrain from “making misleading claims.” The Commission unanimously approved the Final Order 3-0.
The FTC had filed a complaint against accessiBe Ltd alleging that “despite the company’s claims, accessWidget did not make all user websites WCAG-compliant and these claims were false, misleading, or unsubstantiated.” The complaint further alleged that it “deceptively formatted third-party articles and reviews to appear as if they were independent opinions.”
The settlement reinforces the FTC’s continued focus on misleading claims, and companies should check the accuracy of representations made on websites.