Readspeaker

Municipality of De Bilt

ReadSpeaker is a read-aloud feature on the municipal website that automatically converts text into spoken language. Visitors can have web pages read out loud via a read-aloud button. The feature makes the website more accessible for people with visual impairments, dyslexia or language problems, among others, and helps residents understand information better.

Last change on 11th of March 2026, at 12:16 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Other algorithms
• Impact assessment: Field not filled in.
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Organisation and business operations

Begin date

01-2018

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://www.debilt.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/organisatie/privacy-en-algoritmes/algoritmeregister

Responsible use

Goal and impact

ReadSpeaker uses AI-driven text-to-speech (Text-to-Speech) technology to automatically convert written text on the municipal website into natural spoken language. The technology analyses the text on the page and converts it into audio using speech models. It takes into account pronunciation, sentence structure and intonation so that the text read aloud sounds as natural as possible.

The aim of using ReadSpeaker is to make the municipal website more accessible to residents who have reading difficulties, such as people with visual impairments, dyslexia or limited language skills. Visitors can use a read-aloud button to have the content of a page read to them, with words often also visually highlighted during the reading.

The impact for residents is that the AI-assisted speech feature helps residents access information about municipal services, schemes and news independently. Thus, the application contributes to inclusive and accessible digital services provided by the municipality.

Considerations

The deployment of the ReadSpeaker algorithm has the significant benefit of making the municipal website more accessible to a wide range of residents. By automatically reading text aloud, people with visual impairments, dyslexia or limited language skills can understand information more easily. This contributes to inclusive services and supports legal obligations around digital accessibility. In addition, the feature helps residents find information independently, without additional support from the municipality.

A possible drawback is that the speech output is not always completely natural or error-free, for example in the case of abbreviations, names or specific technical terms. Using an external technology may also raise questions about data processing or dependence on a supplier. However, the impact of this is limited because the technology only converts text from the website to speech and does not make any content decisions.

The deployment of the ReadSpeaker algorithm is therefore considered reasonably justified. The technology is used exclusively to support the accessibility of existing information, involves low risk and provides clear social benefits for residents who would otherwise struggle to use digital information.

Human intervention

When using ReadSpeaker, human intervention remains present in the form of editing, managing and monitoring the content of the municipal website. Municipality employees are responsible for writing, checking and publishing the texts that appear on the website. ReadSpeaker only reads these existing texts and does not generate any new content itself.

Risk management

1. Limited interpretation of context - The algorithm converts text to speech without full content interpretation. As a result, intonation or emphasis may sometimes not match the meaning of the text optimally.
2. Dependence on the quality of the source text - The algorithm reads the text as it is written. If the original text is unclear, long or official, this remains noticeable in the read-aloud version.
3. Said risks mainly affect the user experience and not the content of the information itself. The algorithm does not generate new information or change the text; it only converts it to spoken language.

Legal basis

The legal basis for the use of ReadSpeaker lies mainly in the obligation to make digital government information accessible and in the municipality's public duty to provide information for all residents in a comprehensible and usable way, within the framework of privacy legislation.

Links to legal bases

• Digital Accessibility Act (Wdo): https://www.communicatierijk.nl/vakkennis/rijkswebsites/verplichte-richtlijnen/digitale-toegankelijkheid
• Government Digital Accessibility Decree: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0040936/
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): https://www.digitoegankelijk.nl/wetgeving/wat-is-verplicht

Operations

Data

Field not filled in.

External provider

ReadSpeaker ( part of HOYA Corporation)