Malvient associations threaten legal proceedings of players in large distribution

Several associations had put the main players in large distribution on notice on the accessibility of their site and their application. The brands had until September 1 to act, but the account is still not there. Without commitment on their part, the associations will initiate prosecution.

Legal battle between associations of visually impaired and large distribution. Several associations (plural right, interest in acting and apidv) denounce the lack of accessibility of online sales sites of four brands: Auchan, Carrefour, Leclerc and Picard. However, a European directive entered into force at the end of June 2025 forced companies to market products and services accessible to all.

The associations put these brands in formal notice to comply on July 9, they had until September 1 to do so. The delay is sold and, for associations, the account is not there.

To do her shopping, Anne-Sarah Kertudo takes her phone set in vocal mode. “You will see the image, and I will hear the description of the image, she explains. If this has not been done, my mouse blocks on the image and I don’t want to move forward. “

But nothing to do, the president of the Association Law Pluriel cannot validate her basket. “This can be on the selection of products, on payment, it can suddenly be a screen that appears and blocks everything. So you have already spent twenty minutes to do all your shopping then you find yourself completely blocked. We cannot, independently, do your shopping and fend for yourself.”

“There is a way of telling us ‘You do not exist, you do not count, you are not credible, legitimate customers, we are not entitled to you'”

Anne-Sarah Kertudo

in franceinfo

The brands defend themselves and advance higher and higher accessibility rates: 71% for Carrefour, 56% at Picard. Erwann Robbe, Legal Coordinator of the Association Interest in Acting, is not convinced. “Accessibility means that the site or application is noticeable, usable, understandable and robust, basically, that we can fully use it. We do not hear a rate”, he recalls.

Without a clear commitment to the four brands, associations will initiate legal proceedings. A similar approach had made it possible in 2022 to make school life software accessible (notably Pronote) and to have the French state condemned in 2024 for its inaction on the subject.