Is Your Online Store Legally
Protected? Find Out Free.
Shopify, WooCommerce, and custom stores face ADA lawsuits, FTC enforcement, GDPR fines, and security breaches. One ComplixAI scan covers it all — accessibility, privacy, return policies, subscription disclosures, security vulnerabilities, and more.
Works with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and custom stores.
eCommerce Legal Risk Areas We Check
ADA / WCAG Accessibility
Missing product image alt text, color contrast failures, keyboard navigation issues in cart and checkout. Average ADA lawsuit settlement: $25K–$100K.
Return & Refund Policy
EU law gives customers a 14-day no-questions return right. Missing or hidden policies increase chargebacks and eliminate your ability to win payment disputes.
Subscription Disclosures
The FTC requires clear disclosure of recurring charges before signup. Click-to-Cancel rule (2024) mandates online cancellation as easy as sign-up.
Hidden Fees (FTC)
Processing fees, handling charges, and convenience fees must be disclosed before checkout — not revealed on the confirmation page.
GDPR / CCPA Privacy
Analytics and advertising trackers loading before cookie consent is obtained. Privacy policies that don't list all third parties.
Security Headers
Missing Content-Security-Policy, HSTS, and X-Frame-Options expose customers to data theft. Required for PCI DSS compliance if you process card data.
Why eCommerce Stores Are a Top Compliance Target
Online stores face a unique convergence of legal exposure. ADA plaintiffs' attorneys specifically target eCommerce because the commercial nature makes damages easier to calculate. The FTC has dramatically expanded enforcement against subscription traps, hidden fees, and deceptive cancellation practices — issuing hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties in 2023 and 2024.
At the same time, EU and California privacy regulators have made cookie consent enforcement a priority, with cookie-related GDPR fines becoming increasingly common against eCommerce businesses that use standard analytics and advertising tools without a compliant consent management platform.
Shopify ADA Compliance: What You Need to Know
Shopify is not ADA-compliant by default. The platform provides some accessibility infrastructure, but your theme, product images, and third-party apps determine whether your store meets WCAG 2.1 Level AA. The most common Shopify violations are: product images without alt text (added via the theme editor without the alt field), color contrast failures in the theme's default color palette, and keyboard navigation issues in quick-view modals and cart drawers added by apps.
Shopify app developers are not required to meet accessibility standards, which means every app you install is a potential source of new violations. A regular automated scan — before and after every app install — is the only way to stay on top of this.
The FTC's New eCommerce Rules (2024)
Two major FTC rules took effect in 2024 that directly affect eCommerce businesses. The Click-to-Cancel rule requires that subscription cancellation be as easy as sign-up — no calling a number, no chat requirements. The Junk Fees Rule prohibits disclosing mandatory fees only at checkout. Both rules carry civil penalties of up to $51,744 per violation per day.
eCommerce Compliance FAQ
Is Shopify ADA compliant out of the box?▼
No. Shopify provides some baseline accessibility features in its platform, but your specific theme, customizations, and third-party apps introduce violations. Color contrast in theme defaults, missing alt text on product images, and keyboard navigation issues in cart drawers are common failures that Shopify does not prevent.
Do I need a return policy for my online store?▼
Yes, in most jurisdictions. EU consumers have a statutory 14-day right of withdrawal under the Consumer Rights Directive. In the US, the FTC requires return policies to be disclosed before purchase. Without a visible policy, you face higher chargeback rates and will lose payment processor disputes.
What does the FTC Click-to-Cancel rule require for subscriptions?▼
The FTC's 2024 rule requires that cancellation of a subscription must be as easy as signing up. If customers can subscribe online in three clicks, they must be able to cancel online in three clicks. Requiring a phone call or chat to cancel is explicitly prohibited. Violations carry civil penalties up to $51,744 per occurrence.
What are FTC junk fees and how do they apply to eCommerce?▼
The FTC's Junk Fees Rule prohibits disclosing mandatory fees (processing fees, convenience fees, handling charges) only at the final checkout step. All fees must appear upfront in the listed price or immediately adjacent to it. Sellers who reveal fees only on the order confirmation page are in violation.
How do I check if my WooCommerce store is compliant?▼
ComplixAI crawls your live WooCommerce store URL and checks for: ADA/WCAG 2.1 AA violations, missing legal pages (return policy, privacy policy, terms), subscription billing disclosures, cookie consent implementation, and security header configuration. The Business plan scans up to 8 pages including your checkout flow.
Scan Your Store Now — Free
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