| Goal | Enforce the regulations for universal design of ICT solutions as set out in Section 18 of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act and the regulations on universal design of information and communication technology solutions (ICT regulations), Simplified privacy statements on public websites and contribute to the populations’ digital participation throughout life. |
| Responsible for the commitment | Through the Authority for Universal Design of ICT (Uu-tilsynet), the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency (Digdir) is the supervisory and control body, while The Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance is the appeals body and higher authority. |
| Stakeholders | Authorities: Digdir represented by the Authority for Universal Design of ICT as control and supervisory body. The Ministry of Culture and Equality (KUD), The Ministry of Digitisation and Public Governance (DFD), All ministries with subordinate agencies Municipalities and county authorities, anyone who handles personal data. Civil society: User organisations for persons with various types of disabilities and organisations for the elderly are stakeholders to a great extent. All associations and organisations that use websites, apps, or vending machines in contact with the public are required to comply with the requirements of the ICT regulations. Others (parliament, private sector, etc.): Finance Norway, ICT Norway, the IT industry and the electronics industry, Nordic Council of Ministers + the Baltic countries, The Storting is involved as legislator, the regulations apply to all entities in the private, central government, and municipal sectors, including bodies governed by public law that use websites, apps, or vending machines in contact with the public, which are required to comply with the requirements of the ICT regulations. |
| Time period (to – from) | 2023 – 2024/2025 |
| What is the cause of the problem? | · Many are vulnerable to digital exclusion due to a lack of digital competence and knowledge. Poor universal design, limited user involvement, inaccessible language, and insufficient user guidance intensify the problem. · There is reason to believe that the concern about not providing sufficient information to fulfil the information obligations in the GDPR is the reason why many privacy statements are very complex. · Age, lack of knowledge, disability, lack of skills in dealing with public administration, low trust and language and cultural barriers prevent many from being digitally included throughout their lives. |
Enforce the regulations for universal design of ICT solutions
Digitalisation of society makes everyday life easier for many people. Social media, news, timetables, shopping, banking and public services can be accessed via PCs and mobile phones. While nine out of ten people go online several times a day many people experience digital exclusion. Disabilities, advanced age, skills and language challenges mean that many people are unable to participate in society on equal terms.
The regulations shall in particular safeguard persons who are/have visually impaired or blind, hearing impaired or deaf, mobility impairment or other motor disabilities, cognitive disabilities and/or a primary language other than Norwegian.
Universal design is crucial for avoiding digital exclusion. This will benefit those who need it most but will also improve the quality of use for everyone.
The regulations require that websites, apps and self-service machines that the public and private sectors, including voluntary organisations, use in contact with the general public must be universally designed,In accordance with Section 18 of the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act and the regulations on universal design of information and communication technology solutions (ICT regulations).
The initiatives/solutions presented here are in line with Digdir/the Authority for Universal Design of ICT’s plans:
- Enforce expanded regulations for the use of ICT in line with the imposed guidelines for increased control volume.
- Continue the work to digitise methods for control and supervision to effectively scale up the control activities.
- Roll out the solution for accessibility declarations to help ensure that all public sector activities have declarations of compliance with the regulations.
- Continue the work on guidance, communication, information work and contact with industry and user organisations.
- Analyse data and disseminate knowledge about the status of universal design of ICT, digital participation and digital exclusion.
- Contribute to updated and relevant regulations.
The purpose is to promote equal participation in society, reduce and prevent new digital barriers and prevent discrimination. The regulations must be enforced and followed up through supervision, control, guidance and area monitoring.
Simplified privacy statements on public websites
It is a challenge that many privacy statements in both the public and private sectors are difficult to access. They are both legally and technically complex, and often linguistically complicated.
This makes it difficult for data subjects to understand what personal data is processed and how it is processed. The aim of the commitment is to make such declarations more user-friendly.
The Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance in possible cooperation with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, DFØ and Digdir, has taken the initiative to prepare templates for privacy information/privacy statements. This will be a component of the work on the Central Government Communication Policy. The template can be utilised by the public sector as a basis for its information on the processing of personal data.
Understandable information shows users how public agencies take responsibility and comply with the obligations of the data protection regulations, i.e. that they handle personal data in a lawful, fair and transparent manner, as required by the regulations
Digital inclusion
Many citizens experience digital exclusion at different stages of life. This can be caused by factors such as age, lack of knowledge, disabilities, limited skills in dealing with public services, low trust, and language or cultural barriers. Efforts have been made to address these challenges across several areas and over the years. (See ” What has been done so far to solve the problem?”).
To further strengthen efforts, the following measures are proposed:
- Facilitate quality-assured and free assistance programmes for citizens with low or inadequate digital skills.
- Further develop cooperation with the municipalities’ KS organisation to facilitate the development of good local guidance services throughout the country.
- Work to make businesses more responsible for including all citizens in their digital service offerings
- Facilitate that participation in publicly subsidised low-threshold offerings aimed at those with insufficient or low digital skills should, as a general rule, be free of charge.
- Ensure that the population’s level of digital skills is regularly surveyed –
- collaborate with public, private and voluntary organisations to implement a campaign to motivate citizens who need digital skills training to sign up for courses.
What has been done so far to solve the problem?
- Norway was one of the first countries to demand universal design for ICT solutions in the private and public sectors. Since 2014, the regulations in Norway have been enforced through supervision The EU followed suit in 2018 with similar regulations but limited to the public sector.
- The regulations have been extended for the public sector with effect from 1 February 2023, so that from this date, more and stricter requirements are set for universal design of ICT in the public sector, compared to the private sector.
- Communication activities and dialogue with industry and user organisations, area monitoring in the form of analysis and surveys to increase knowledge of the status of compliance and the consequences of digital exclusion in the absence of universal design.
- Websites must have accessibility statements that indicate how well their digital platforms comply with accessibility regulations and provide users with the ability to report accessibility issues. This requirement came into effect on February 1, 2023, for websites, with the deadline for apps set for February 1, 2024. This applies equally to public agencies and judicial bodies.
- There is no specific information about efforts by the authorities to simplify privacy statements. However, some work has been undertaken privately, such as the development of icons to replace written text, though there is no evidence that these solutions have been used in Norway.
- Since 2014, the Ministry has organized several initiatives and activities aimed at citizens with low or inadequate digital skills, including collaborations with Seniornett, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), and The Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS).
- In March 2022, DFD and KS entered into a new cooperation agreement to establish municipal assistance programs aimed at enhancing citizens’ digital skills. This agreement is in effect until 2025. The Ministry oversees a grant program designed to promote increased digital participation and skills among the population. The grant amount was increased from NOK 2 million to NOK 8 million in 2022.
- An action plan to increase inclusion in a digital society. (In Norwegian).
- The establishment of a cooperation forum for digital inclusion.
Expected outcome
- That citizens, regardless of disability, will be able to participate in digital social arenas on equal terms.
- Through the Authority for Universal Design of ICT, Digdir shall annually monitor how entities comply with the regulations, and the results of these controls shall be reported to ESA/EU and made publicly available. Norway must increase the number of annual inspections in accordance with EU Directive 2016/2102, conducting in-depth controls of 30 to 35 websites and apps for full compliance with the regulations, as well as up to 280 simplified inspections to identify possible breaches.
- Increased awareness and knowledge about universal design of ICT and contribute to ensuring that universal design is a continuous endeavour that is included from the start of all development projects and is maintained in further development and administration.
- Increased knowledge and awareness of the extent and consequences of lack of universal design and digital exclusion.
- Template for simplified and more understandable information about the processing of personal data for citizens. This will be in accordance with the information obligation in GDPR Art. 12(1).
- A reduction in the number of citizens over the age of 16 with insufficient or weak basic digital skills from 14 percent in 2021 to 10 percent in 2025.
- Citizens gain insight into and an understanding of their duties and rights. More people can “scrutinise the public administration”. Increases transparency and openness.