Bill 96: must your website and app be in French?

In a January 2025 release, the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) states that section 52 of the Charter provides that commercial publications must be written in French, and that this includes those published on a website.

The same release reports a $3,000 fine paid by a business whose website was not compliant.

The law was assented to on June 1, 2022. According to the OQLF, businesses must offer service in French at all times, on terms equivalent or comparable to service in any other language.

For software, that covers the interface, automated emails, invoices and support.

Since June 1, 2023, a French version of a contract of adhesion must be given to the customer, per the OQLF. Without it, the business cannot bind the customer to a contract in another language.

A SaaS's terms of use are typically contracts of adhesion: the French version must be presented first.

Per the OQLF, French must be clearly predominant on exterior signage showing a trademark or business name in another language with no French version. Since the same date, businesses with 25 to 49 employees must register with the Office to begin francization.

Our engineering recommendations, to validate with your legal advisor:

• aDesign the interface in complete French, not partial translation.
• bShow French by default to users in Quebec.
• cPresent terms of use and the privacy policy in French first.
• dTranslate transactional emails, invoices and error messages.
• ePlan customer support in French, with equivalent response times.