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Website Maintenance in a GDPR and Accessibility World: What You Must Include in Europe

When Compliance Becomes Maintenance

🕝 9 min read   by CamelWeb

Across Europe, maintaining a website is not just about performance — it’s about responsibility.

A technically flawless website may still be non-compliant if it mishandles personal data or excludes users with disabilities.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set clear expectations: websites must respect privacy and inclusion by design — and through ongoing maintenance.

This article explores what website maintenance means in a GDPR and accessibility context, how enforcement varies between EU member states, and why inclusion and transparency are integral to your website’s long-term health.

Why GDPR and Accessibility Belong to Maintenance — Not Just Design

Many businesses see GDPR compliance and accessibility as one-off projects — done during launch or after an audit.

But both are living, evolving obligations.

  • GDPR requires regular oversight of how data is collected, stored, and shared.

  • Accessibility must adapt as browsers, screen readers, and frameworks evolve.

If these areas aren’t included in regular maintenance, compliance quietly deteriorates — exposing businesses to risk.

That’s why European website maintenance goes far beyond plugin updates; it’s about continuous digital due diligence.

GDPR: Continuous Data Hygiene

Under GDPR, every company is a data controller responsible for the information it collects — from contact forms to analytics cookies.

While the regulation applies EU-wide, enforcement differs from country to country.

Different Enforcement Cultures Across Europe

According to CookieYes, GDPR enforcement varies across member states:

  • France
    (CNIL) is among the strictest regulators, with significant fines against both SMEs and global tech firms.

  • Germany
    Enforces GDPR through regional data-protection authorities (Länder DPAs) that actively audit websites for cookie consent and data-transfer compliance.

  • Spain’s AEPD
    Often issues public warnings to businesses with inadequate cookie banners or privacy disclosures.

  • The Netherlands
    Takes a transparency-first approach, urging proactive compliance before penalising companies.

  • Ireland
    Home to many global tech giants, has become a major hub for cross-border GDPR cases, reflecting its supervisory role for EU-wide operations.

These differences mean that website maintenance in Europe must remain locally aware — what passes in one member state may attract scrutiny in another.

Ongoing GDPR Maintenance Tasks

1. Privacy and Cookie Policies

  • Review quarterly to match your current data-collection practices.

  • Update when adding new analytics, CRMs, or tracking services.

  • List the purpose of each cookie in plain English.

2. Cookie Consent Management

  • Verify that banners block non-essential cookies until users opt in.

  • Ensure consent logs are stored securely and retrievable for audits.

  • Test opt-out and withdrawal functions regularly.

3. Data Storage & Retention

  • Periodically delete or anonymise outdated form submissions or backups.

  • Check that storage servers are located within the EU or under adequate safeguards.

4. Third-Party Integrations

  • Audit API and script behaviour after every platform update.

  • Confirm current Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with vendors.

For more insight into dividing responsibilities between teams, see “In-House Dev Team? How to Outsource the Gatekeeper Role While Keeping Control.”

Accessibility: Maintenance for Inclusion

Accessibility maintenance ensures your website remains usable for all visitors — regardless of disability, device, or environment.

The European Blind Union reports that over 30 million blind and partially sighted persons live in geographical Europe — roughly 1 in 30 Europeans experience sight loss (European Blind Union, 2023).

This alone underscores how crucial inclusive web practices are.

And sight is just one aspect: millions more experience hearing loss or cognitive challenges that affect digital access.

Accessibility Checks to Include in Maintenance

  • Alt Text and Media Descriptions
    Review all new content monthly.

  • Keyboard Navigation
    Verify navigation paths quarterly.

  • Contrast and Readability
    Confirm that brand updates don’t reduce legibility.

  • Form Validation
    Ensure labels, error messages, and focus states remain clear.

  • Dynamic Content (React / JS)
    Test with screen readers after every release.

Automated testing tools such as Axe and Wave are useful, but manual validation by real users remains essential.

For headless or React-based sites, see “Headless CMS & React Websites: What Maintenance Looks Like for Modern Architecture.”

The Business Case for Compliance

Beyond ethics and law, compliance is commercially strategic:

  • Search Visibility
    Search engines reward accessible, transparent sites.

  • User Trust
    Transparent data handling improves conversion and retention.

  • Risk Mitigation
    Fines in France, Spain, and Germany have reached millions of euros.

  • Market Reach
    Inclusive design serves a larger demographic — potentially 30 million+ Europeans with sight loss, as noted by the European Blind Union.

For a broader introduction to maintenance value, see “What Is Website Maintenance – and Why Every Business Needs It.”

Integrating GDPR and Accessibility Into Regular Maintenance

Frequency

Task

Monthly

Check cookie banners and analytics scripts.

Quarterly

Review privacy notices, consent logs, and accessibility reports.

Bi-Annually

Conduct WCAG 2.2 manual audits.

Annually

Re-evaluate GDPR documentation and employee awareness.

AI-powered compliance tools can simplify this workflow by identifying broken consent flows or missing accessibility attributes.

See “Future-Proof Website Maintenance: How AI-Driven Checks and Automation Are Changing the Game.”

The Intersection of GDPR and Accessibility

At their core, both frameworks reflect respect for the individual.

  • GDPR protects how you handle personal data.

  • Accessibility ensures who can participate digitally.

Together, they form the foundation of responsible European web design and maintenance.

Staying Ahead Through Shared Knowledge

Laws and standards evolve quickly — WCAG 2.2, new EU accessibility directives, AI Act implications, and national data-protection rulings.

That’s why CamelWeb publishes Better, Faster, More — a concise technical bulletin offering verified updates on compliance, accessibility, and technology trends across Europe.

It’s informational, not promotional.

You can request a complimentary copy to keep your team aligned with upcoming changes

The European Dimension: Beyond Legal Minimums

Compliance is increasingly cultural across Europe.

Businesses that bake GDPR and accessibility into ongoing maintenance demonstrate transparency, inclusion, and reliability — traits highly valued by European consumers and regulators alike.

Compliance as Continuous Care

GDPR and accessibility maintenance are not optional extras; they are core components of digital integrity.

Regular reviews prevent small oversights from becoming legal or reputational risks — and reinforce the principle that technology should serve everyone, fairly and respectfully.

Handled consistently, they transform maintenance from an obligation into an act of digital ethics.

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