What WCAG 3.3.9 Requires
AAA only: the same as 3.3.8, but with no exception at all for object recognition or personal content identification tests.
Can AccessBell Test This Automatically?
Not fully. Like most WCAG criteria that depend on meaning or context, this one needs a person to judge. AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail automatically, so it never gets missed.
How to Test It by Hand
Confirm authentication requires no cognitive test whatsoever, including image or personal-content recognition challenges.
Common Failures
- A CAPTCHA that asks users to identify objects in images has no accessible or cognitive-test-free alternative.
Related Criteria in Input Assistance
WCAG 3.3.9 Questions
What does WCAG 3.3.9 require?
AAA only: the same as 3.3.8, but with no exception at all for object recognition or personal content identification tests.
Can AccessBell test WCAG 3.3.9 automatically?
Not fully. This criterion needs a person to judge, so AccessBell's report lists it for manual review rather than marking it pass or fail on its own.
What level is WCAG 3.3.9?
Level AAA, added in WCAG 2.2. Level AAA is the highest, most demanding conformance level in WCAG.
Sources
- W3C: Understanding 3.3.9 Accessible Authentication (Enhanced) (opens in a new tab)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (opens in a new tab)
This page explains a technical standard and is not legal advice. See our disclaimer.