  This paper investigates the accessibility of cookie notices on websites for
users with visual impairments (VI) via a set of system studies on top UK
websites (n=46) and a user study (n=100). We use a set of methods and
tools--including accessibility testing tools, text-only browsers, and screen
readers, to perform our system studies. Our results demonstrate that the
majority of cookie notices on these websites have some form of accessibility
issues including contrast issues, not having headings, and not being read aloud
immediately when the page is loaded. We discuss how such practises impact the
user experience and privacy and provide a set of recommendations for multiple
stakeholders for more accessible websites and better privacy practises for
users with VIs. To complement our technical contribution we conduct a user
study and finding that people with VIs generally have a negative view of cookie
notices and believe our recommendations could help their online experience. We
also find a disparity in how users wish to respond to cookie notices as apposed
to how they do in reality.
