WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: accessiBe are seeking credibility by association

for

From: Chris O'Brien
Date: May 28, 2021 2:02PM

Given their past one would have to assume it will highlight sites using their technology.



Chris O'Brien
Director of Accessibility
Legal and Litigation


OLG Internal

-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Andrews, David B (DEED)
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 3:51 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] accessiBe are seeking credibility by association

This email originated outside of OLG. Do not open attachments or click links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

I saw an announcement somewhere about this search engine. I think they are doing it with others, and it says it will only show "accessible sites." Well, who decides, and how???

Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of Steve Green
Sent: Friday, May 28, 2021 2:26 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List < <EMAIL REMOVED> >
Subject: [WebAIM] accessiBe are seeking credibility by association

This message may be from an external email source.
Do not select links or open attachments unless verified. Report all suspicious emails to Minnesota IT Services Security Operations Center.

Earlier today on the W3C WAI email discussion group, there was a mixed reaction to the news that accessiBe plan to become members of the W3C. I say it was a mixed reaction, because it was split between "this is a terrible thing and we have to stop it" and "this is a terrible thing but we should tolerate it till they break the rules". I side with the latter view.

Now I find that they are claiming to be building the world's first search engine for accessible sites - https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Faccessfind.com%2F&amp;data%7C01%7Cchrobrien%40olg.ca%7C2e0d62c775d34e5f006c08d92211e07e%7Cf271d9b4e54c46e182bd25d50afa3779%7C0%7C0%7C637578283463239496%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=WjbJ%2BvEH8i3CubI5WdVVxvGdlb729g6eWYSwCuGjfjY%3D&amp;reserved=0. This is actually untrue - one of my colleagues created one in 2004.

I was immediately suspicious, and then I found this - "accessiBe-powered websites are automatically added". Add this to their W3C membership, and they are definitely trying to gain credibility by associating themselves with the right people and causes. They recently received $28 Million Series A funding, so I fear this is just the start, and that they will be a formidable adversary.

Regards,
Steve Green
Managing Director
Test Partners Ltd
020 3002 4176 (direct)
0800 612 2780 (switchboard)
07957 246 276 (mobile)
020 7692 5517 (fax)
Skype: testpartners
<EMAIL REMOVED>
https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.testpartners.co.uk%2F&amp;data%7C01%7Cchrobrien%40olg.ca%7C2e0d62c775d34e5f006c08d92211e07e%7Cf271d9b4e54c46e182bd25d50afa3779%7C0%7C0%7C637578283463249492%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=lZSp%2B0QtIB1aALXo%2FTUNy%2BuFayxLMTSSAIy9%2FWMfs0U%3D&amp;reserved=0

Connect to me on LinkedIn - https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fstevegreen2&amp;data%7C01%7Cchrobrien%40olg.ca%7C2e0d62c775d34e5f006c08d92211e07e%7Cf271d9b4e54c46e182bd25d50afa3779%7C0%7C0%7C637578283463249492%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=kMwXLmptQN0bO%2BhBz8ST3aa7qtqCk3sH%2FdHkTIiHDtU%3D&amp;reserved=0