Most websites in Ukraine still fail to meet even the basic standards of e-commerce compliance and accessibility. At best, they have a template "Privacy Policy"; at worst - none. Planning to expand to the US or EU? The game changes drastically.
Common Mistakes
- Copy-pasting policies from other sites - copyright infringement and a poor fit for your product.
- Ignoring regulators - “doesn’t apply to us”... until your first inspection.
- Postponing accessibility - “we’ll do it later, MVP first”. But from June 2025, the European Accessibility Act applies.
The Shift
At ITU Legal Talks, Myroslav Khmarskyi clearly outlined what matters:
Core compliance principles:
- Clarity - transparency and simplicity
- Consent - informed user consent
- Control - user control over personal data
Who regulates:
- FTC (US), EU Commission, FCC
- State Consumer Services, Antimonopoly Committee (Ukraine)
- WCAG / ADA, Clean Software Alliance, Google, Apple, Meta
- Coalition for Better Ads - combating dark patterns
Key website documents:
- Terms of Use - your user contract
- Terms of Sale - refund and purchase policy
- Privacy Policy - what personal data you process
- Cookie Policy - who sets cookies and why
Privacy Policy minimum content:
- Who you are
- What data you collect
- Why and under what legal grounds
- Who you share it with
- How you protect it
- User rights
- What about minors?
- How updates are handled
Accounts:
- Minimum age, transfer rules, user responsibility
- How to delete an account
Content rights:
- Copyright, user-generated content
- Moderation and removal rights
Accessibility:
- Equal access isn’t a “bonus” - it’s a legal requirement
- WCAG = the bare minimum
- Core components: (text contrast and font size; keyboard/voice navigation; screen reader compatibility)
Risks
- Fines and ad bans (Google/Meta)
- Blocked by major payment systems
- Loss of user trust
- Closed doors to international markets
After the Ukrainian ITU Legal Talks with Myroslav Khmarskyi, which focused on accessibility from a legal perspective, the U.S.-based webinar “Drive ROI and Limit Risk” emphasized the business case.
The webinar highlighted that excluding people with disabilities leads to losses, while inclusion results in:
- increased conversions and revenue;
- stronger employer and customer brand perception;
- reduced legal exposure.
How much can it cost?
- One reactive fix after a complaint: ~$10,000
- 100 complaints per year = $994,950 in potential losses
- Legal costs from an accessibility lawsuit: $225/hour or more, involving executives, external counsel, compliance, testing, and marketing teams
The takeaway
Legally sound website policies build user trust and protect your business from audits and complaints.
Digital accessibility not only ensures legal compliance, but also unlocks access to a broader audience and supports sustainable growth in international markets.