Do You Need Captions to Avoid Fines? AI Closed Captioning

If you’re looking to create video content, it’s always important to focus on quality but also accessibility as well. Since your content will be seen by a plethora of user types, it’s crucial to ensure that everyone will be able to access and consume your content evenly. That’s why there are certain accessibility requirements imposed by law, at least in certain countries. Accessibility laws are designed to ensure everyone will be able to access the content since some people have hearing disabilities, for example. 

Now, the question is, can you rely on YouTube automatic captions? A lot of the time, these are not accurate, and their quality is rather low, especially for niche content. That’s why it’s important to use a tool like ZapCap, which delivers expertly crafted, AI-generated closed captions with 99%+ accuracy and details. With a reliable AI closed caption generator or automatic closed captioning software, your content can meet accessibility standards without compromise.

What are the major closed caption laws in various countries worldwide?

An important thing to note is that every country reserves its right to create specialized regulations when it comes to closed captions. That’s why it’s important to know how you can achieve closed captioning compliance based on where you live. 

United Kingdom

1 out of 5 people in the UK have some type of disability. That’s why the PSBAR requested that all public sector entities offer closed captions for pre-recorded videos but not live streams. They are a legal requirement and need to be accurate, without errors, and clearly shown within the content. Regulations also apply to mobile apps as well.

United States

In the US, there are 4 laws and acts pertaining to closed captions. These include:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the most important legal requirement when it comes to accessibility. It states that businesses, governmental entities, nonprofits, all of them need to communicate with citizens effectively, especially if the latter party has any disability. Even if the ADA doesn’t mention closed captions directly, they clearly show that any communication with customers needs to take people with disabilities into account. That means it’s imperative to have closed captions, even if they are made by automatic subtitle generators. 
• The FCC Closed Captioning Regulations state that video programming distributors offer closed captions for all clients. They supplement the ADA while ensuring that video content always contains detailed, accurate closed captions.
• The 21st Century Communications and Videos Accessibility Act (CVAA) was established in 2010, and it was meant as an update for the ADA. It delves specifically into online content, and it builds upon the closed captions regulations made by the FCC. Within the CVAA, you can find mentions of caption placement, timing, quality, etc. 
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act states that online content, along with websites and emails, should be accessible to everyone, and that means video content must be captioned. It also states that closed captioning shouldn’t obstruct/obscure the info presented within the video.

Australia

In Australia, captions are required for compliance with the WCAG 2.0 level A. It’s mentioned that captions need to be accessible, equivalent and also synchronized. Tools like live captioning software ensure compliance by making captions accessible and properly timed.

Europe 

If you’re creating video content in the EU, then you are subject to The European Accessibility Act (EAA) which had its latest revision in 2025. The role of this act is to ensure all content is readily accessible for everyone in the EU, including people with disabilities. When it comes to closed captioning, the EEA states that any company that creates audiovisual content needs to integrate audio descriptions and closed captions.

Additionally, the EAA mandates compliance with the WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines. In those guidelines, you can find guidelines on how to offer text alternatives while focusing on the use of subtitles and captions.

Of course, these regulations vary from one country/state/region to another. That’s why it’s imperative to check your own country’s regulations in regard to accessibility and closed captions. It will help you figure out if closed captions are mandatory or not and when you need to add them to your content. 

Are you subject to any fines if you don’t have closed captions?

As we saw above, there are many countries where using closed captions is mandatory, especially when it comes to public or private businesses within the video/broadcasting space. That’s why it’s important to create accurate, detailed closed captions and ensure they are available to viewers when needed. If there’s a lack of closed captioning compliance, you could be subject to certain fines.

While there’s no specific fine, it’s important to note that ViacomCBS and Pluto had to pay $3.5 million in fines according to an FCC order. That goes to show it’s important to have closed captioning available, otherwise you can end up dealing with a hefty fine.

Even in Europe, not complying with the EAA requirements can bring financial penalties of up to 1 million EUR. Not only that, but the EAA also allows market removal for those products/services that don’t include closed captioning despite being mandatory. The best approach is to use automatic subtitle generators since they ensure reliability, accuracy, and better quality.

What are the primary rules regarding closed captioning?

If you want to maintain closed captioning compliance, it’s very important to ensure that your video content focuses on these requirements:

• Closed captions need to be complete; they need to run from the beginning to the end of the video content.
• They also need to have adequate placement to prevent blocking crucial video content. That means CCs should never block any information, overlap content, nor should they be improperly displayed on the screen.
• Synchronization is mandatory, as the captions need to be in line with the sounds and spoken words. That way, someone with disabilities can still understand and not worry about any text/audio delays.
• Accuracy is crucial because captions need to match spoken words. Background noises should also be added in captions, if they are relevant. That’s a situation when using automatic subtitle generators that have 99% accuracy is a very good idea.

Is it mandatory to have closed captions for social media platform videos?

According to various legal frameworks available worldwide, websites that display videos previously aired on TV need to have closed captions. While there isn’t a specific law dictating every online video (especially those made by creators on social media) needs to have closed captions, it’s always a very good idea to offer closed captions for your audience.

Not only will you lose a lot of viewers and market share by not adding closed captions, but sometimes viewers might not understand your content. Having closed captions can be extremely helpful in those situations. Plus, it gives you closed captioning compliance with many international regulations. These days, most countries focus on implementing accessibility-related laws, so it’s a matter of time until most videos will be required to have closed captions.

What are the benefits of closed captions for creators?

If you start using automatic subtitle generators, you will finally be able to create very accurate, detailed closed captions. That will give you access to the following benefits:

• Closed captions are great for SEO, and they could help your video content rank higher.
• You offer much-needed accessibility for some of your viewers while expanding the video’s coverage.
• With help from closed captions, you won’t have any problem offering more flexibility in regard to how people can view your content.
• In some cases, viewers won’t be able to listen to the audio within your videos, and in those cases, having YouTube automatic captions can be very helpful.
• You’ll have closed captioning compliance and legal protection in case your country implements any new accessibility regulations.
• Generally, video content with closed captions tends to have better engagement.

Conclusion

Is it possible to get fined for not including closed captions? It depends on your country’s laws, but many regions enforce accessibility regulations. Failing to provide AI closed captioning could lead to fines or content restrictions.

And even if that’s not the case, you still want to offer your viewers the best experience. That’s why it’s a great idea to integrate closed captions within your video content. You’ll have better exposure to a variety of audiences, comply with local/international regulations while enhancing the video’s production quality as well!

FAQ

Why do I need AI closed captioning for my videos?

AI closed captioning ensures your content is accessible to a wider audience, including those with hearing impairments. It also improves engagement, SEO, and compliance with accessibility laws.

What is the best AI closed caption generator for accuracy?

A reliable AI closed caption generator, like ZapCap, offers 99%+ accuracy, making it a better option than YouTube’s automatic captions, which often miss nuances in speech.

Is live captioning software necessary for compliance?

Live captioning software is essential for real-time accessibility, especially for businesses, educational institutions, and live-streaming platforms that need to comply with accessibility laws.

Are social media creators required to use captions for talking videos?

While not always mandatory, using captions for talking videos improves reach and engagement. Many countries are moving toward stricter regulations, so it’s best to stay ahead of compliance.