1.2.4 Captions (Live)

This extends the captions requirement from prerecorded content to live broadcasts: webinars, live-streamed events, publicly broadcast online meetings, and live news. The captions do not need to be perfect in real time, but they must be present and give a reasonable representation of what is being said.

Live captions are more demanding than prerecorded ones because there is no opportunity to review and correct. The main options are a human stenographer (sometimes called CART, Communication Access Real-time Translation), an AI-powered live captioning service, or a hybrid of both.

For high-stakes events such as public conferences or broadcasts, a professional stenographer provides the highest accuracy, even for technical vocabulary or unusual names.

AI live captioning built into platforms like Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet works well for many purposes. Ask speakers to speak clearly and at a measured pace.

Always disclose that live captions may contain errors. Publish a corrected transcript after the event where possible.

• Webinar or live stream published with no captions at all
• Live event where captions were promised but the service failed and no alternative was arranged