Beyond Impact’s Post

At a The White House and U.S. Department of Justice's #ADA Title II Web and Mobility Accessibility Final Rule Webinar. This will give standards to local government so all citizens have the ability to access information. https://lnkd.in/ei_SB2bR #DisabilityInclusion #WCAG #AccessibleContent #Accessibility #AccessForAll

The #RuleofLaw is one of the EU’s fundamental common values. However, we have seen the situation deteriorating in some member states over the last decade. To tackle the #backsliding, the EU adopted the Conditionality Regulation in 2020. This Regulation created a link between the financial interests of the EU and the protection of the principles of the rule of law. Yesterday, the European Court of Auditors published a #SpecialReport on rule of law in the EU, to which I had the honour to contribute. The report examined whether the Commission’s application of the Conditionality Regulation was appropriate, consistent and aligned with other mechanisms available under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Common Provisions Regulation 2021‑2027 for cohesion policy.   The key #takeaways from this special report are: 1.      The Conditionality Regulation marks an #improvement in the rule of law framework. The only Commission’s proposal (that we have seen so far) to apply measures under the Conditionality Regulation was compliant with the Regulation, based on a fair assessment, and complemented the other budgetary mechanisms under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy. 2.      However, the Regulation remains difficult to apply concerning the requirement to establish a sufficiently direct link between breaches of principles of the rule of law and the EU’s financial interest. Moreover, there are administrative #obstacles to be overcome by the Commission. 3.      Furthermore, if a member state for which EU funds have been suspended does not fulfil its obligations towards final recipients or beneficiaries of EU programmes, a short-term #consequence may be that the achievement of EU policy objectives is hampered. This would ultimately be the responsibility of the member state concerned, not of the Commission. 4.      A number of risks could significantly undermine the framework’s #effectiveness. A member state’s formal compliance with the remedial measures may not necessarily result in effective and sustainable improvements on the ground that go beyond a mere #boxticking exercise. There are also the risks of such measures subsequently being reversed, or of simultaneous deterioration in other respects. See: https://lnkd.in/d5QiVE6T

The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional 🤝 agreement for a regulation amendment aimed at establishing a framework for a 🇪🇺 European 📲 Digital Identity #EDI #eIDAS2 This proposal represents a significant step towards a unified, secure, and user-friendly digital identity system across the European Union, enhancing digital participation and protection for all citizens. Key aspects include: ➡ Framework Enhancement: The proposal aims to update Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, extending its application to the private sector and promoting secure, trusted digital identities for Europeans. ➡ European Digital Identity Wallet (EDIW): This digital tool will offer a harmonized way for citizens and businesses to authenticate and share identity-linked data, including attributes like academic qualifications and professional entitlements, across the EU. ➡ Privacy and Data Protection: Strong emphasis is placed on aligning with EU data protection laws, ensuring privacy and security in data handling within EDIWs, and incorporating technologies like zero-knowledge proof to enhance privacy. ➡ Accessibility and Usability: The EDIWs are designed to be accessible and user-friendly, catering to a wide range of services both online and offline, and taking into account the needs of all users, including those with disabilities. ➡ Security and Certification: EDIWs must adhere to high security standards, requiring certification by accredited bodies and regular vulnerability assessments. ➡ Innovation and Flexibility: The framework encourages innovation and adaptability to technological advancements, suggesting the use of sandboxes for testing new solutions. ➡ Legal Recognition and Compliance: The regulation ensures that electronic signatures and attestations within the EDIW framework are legally recognized and compliant with EU standards. ➡ Interoperability and Choice: The regulation advocates for interoperability between different EDIW solutions, promoting user choice and preventing lock-in effects. ➡ Sector-Specific Applications: It addresses the needs of various sectors, particularly financial services, offering flexible identification and attribute exchange solutions. ➡ Awareness and Training: Member States are encouraged to develop training programmes and awareness campaigns to increase the adoption and understanding of EDIWs. Find the annoucement the the provisional agreement here: https://lnkd.in/dhAuucv3

At this point, assuming that things go as many expect, I suppose that at least some browser providers will have started to ask themselves some technical questions and perhaps to do a little experimentation regarding the consultation of TSLs. I could understand if the major browser providers, all based in the US, were very reluctant to tackle the adaptation of their software to the revised Art. 45 of eIDAS 2.0, but I would expect that at least the European ones (e.g., Vivaldi) have started working on it. However, from a quick search it doesn't seem so, to date. Does anyone have different news? https://lnkd.in/dA7N5EDq

Learn the importance of ADA and your website. There are new laws in place that could effect your business in the long-term. Let us help you become compliant to ADA guidelines. https://lnkd.in/gN9VnyVh

German civil servants have 2 powerful frameworks to improve user experience with the state and effectfully deliver policy indent – but they are rarely considered in tandem. In a cross-departmental workshop yesterday, we brought together the #ServiceStandard and #DigitalCheck for digital-ready legislation. Both frameworks offer guiding principles – to either policy or service teams. While they are for civil servants in different roles, they overlap quite a bit. Both push for end-to-end digitalisation, accessibility, effective data-sharing, privacy, and improved underlying processes. With colleagues from 8 ministerial departments, Sabrina Feuerherd, Caroline Merz, and I workshopped and examined how both frameworks relate, overlap and complement each other. We also discussed how they are distinct and serve different purposes – but both positively impact people’s experiences with government. Even in 3 hours, we only scratched the surface. So, I would like to dive deeper in the coming weeks and months and look for others interested in participating.  Also, at the end of last year, together with our colleagues at the Bundesministerium des Innern, we created fresh posters with the Service Standard’s 19 points and the digital check’s 5 principles for digital-ready legislation. It’s handy to have them on a wall close to you and have a physical reference point when talking to colleagues and guests about what good looks like. Ping me if you are a public servant and want one.

It’s all about knowledge management and connecting the dots! At the European Court of Auditors, knowledge management plays a crucial role as the world is changing swiftly and auditing European policy making and implementation is not something you learn once at school and can apply for ever. So it was good to run two knowledge sessions these days on the EU fundamental value of the rule of law and on public procurement performance, looking at the different subjects and how they are connected. The rule of law basically means that everybody is equal before the law and that administrative decisions are not arbitrary, but rules based and not favoring or disadvantaging anyone. This is for instance very important for public procurement performance, where fair competition with equal opportunities is key to value for money spending of public funds. We talk about these issues in our recent ECA Reports 03/2024 (The EU rule of law framework to protect its financial interests), 02/2024 (The Commission’s rule of law reporting) and 28/2023 (Public procurement performance). Many thanks to Dieter Böckem, Aleksandar Latinov, Jussi Bright, Jitka Benesova and Christophe Grosnickel for their contributions – and to all the 80 colleagues who participated in these sessions. Want to know more? You find it all in the reports!

Is your municipality's website accessible to all? In this article, we discuss the importance of web accessibility for local governments and share best practices for achieving WCAG compliance. Discover how to ensure your digital services are inclusive and avoid legal risks. Read now to understand how prioritizing web accessibility can lead to a more inclusive future for your community, and take the first steps towards it. https://lnkd.in/gRBrgTeK

Just want to flag this point and these resources for the education in prison community: ADA Title II compliance is going to require that state agencies and their vendors meet WCAG 2.1AA requirements for "digital properties." That means that correctional entities and agencies that have been incorporating digital technologies *and the vendors working with them to provide these* are going to need to make sure that they meet these requirements. Though you might think that applications that are not on the internet don't count, note that this also includes "mobile applications" and "A customizable portal site, where users can choose content to display from a set of different content modules."

Legal Landscape of Digital Accessibility. Understand the federal laws governing digital accessibility https://lnkd.in/gp_inZYP Enroll today Course starts 7.1.2023 uis.edu/ion