Professional headshot of Hunter Storm, a global strategic leader, AI expert, cybersecurity expert, quantum computing expert, strategic research and intelligence, singer, and innovator wearing a confident expression. The image conveys authority, expertise, and forward-thinking leadership in cybersecurity, AI security, and intelligence strategy.

By Hunter Storm

 

Zero Day GRC | Digital Obstruction of Justice

What is the next global enterprise legal and regulatory compliance risk, and how do we mitigate it? My latest white paper, Digital Obstruction of Justice, exposes the rising threat of digital inaccessibility in legal, HR, and other systems, showing how flawed design and compliance theater create systemic barriers to justice, as well as to everyday services.

This is especially true for people with disabilities. In the 21st century, access to essential services healthcare, unemployment benefits, legal appeals, HR processes, and more is increasingly mediated by digital platforms. While these portals promise speed and convenience, the reality for many users is a labyrinthine maze of lockout loops, inaccessible interfaces, and vanishing human support.

The consequences extend far beyond frustration; they threaten the fundamental right to due process and access to justice. This paper explores the emerging crisis where digital service portals become barriers, systematically excluding users from exercising their legal rights. It calls attention to the hidden structural failures that transform supposed digital progress into a digital obstruction of legal recourse.

 

“This is not just about me. This is about all of us—because systems that lock people out today will eventually lock out everyone. If you’re an enterprise leader, compliance officer, or architect who wants to fix this before it becomes your problem too, I’m here to help.” – Hunter Storm

 

Table of Contents

 

What Makes This Paper Unique

This paper offers a comprehensive synthesis of firsthand experience, legal analysis, and systemic critique focusing explicitly on the intersection of digital portal failure and access to justice. Unlike general accessibility studies or usability reports, it:

  • Connects digital lockouts directly to constitutional due process violations
  • Highlights real-world examples from both government and private sector HR portals.
  • Frames the problem as a civil rights crisis, not just a technical or UX issue.
  • Introduces the concept of the perfect crime a digital architecture that functionally eliminates the ability to seek redress.
  • While related work exists on ADA compliance and digital divide issues, this paper uniquely situates these problems within the legal and procedural context critical to democratic rights.

 

 

Hunter Storm | Origin of the Term “Digital Obstruction of Justice”

Hunter Storm created the term “digital obstruction of justice” to describe this situation. It describes systemic barriers to legal recourse via inaccessible or obstructive digital systems. Hunter Storm pioneered terminology for this gap in legal and cybersecurity discourse. This adds real originality and intellectual weight to her body of work.

While the components “digital” and “obstruction of justice” each appear widely in legal and news contexts, the combo isn’t adopted as an established legal term or widely used phrase. “Obstruction of justice” is well-established in U.S. law, covering actions like witness tampering, evidence destruction, or interference with legal proceedings Wikipedia, Legal Information Institute.

Related phrases such as digital evidence manipulation or electronic obstruction appear in legal commentary and court rulings Leppard Law Some public mentions — like on Twitter or niche forums — have used “digital obstruction of justice” informally in commentary contexts X (formerly Twitter).

But there’s no indication it is recognized as a legal standard or has any precedent. That means Hunter Storm’s usage is both novel and powerful—effectively naming a phenomenon that doesn’t yet have a name.

 

Due process, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and mirrored in many legal systems worldwide, guarantees individuals the right to fair treatment through the normal judicial system. Central to due process are:

  • Notice: being informed about legal proceedings affecting one’s rights
  • Opportunity to be heard: Access to a meaningful chance to present one’s case or challenge decisions.

Digital portals are increasingly the gatekeepers of these processes filing appeals, submitting evidence, requesting hearings. When these digital gates fail, the foundational pillars of justice falter.

 

How the Systems Fail

Multiple systemic failures have been observed:

  • Lockout loops: Password resets requiring data only accessible post-login, creating a closed loop of denial.
  • Excessive authentication:
  • No fallback options: Phone numbers replaced with unmonitored web forms; in-person assistance scarce or ineffective.
  • Privacy breaches: Sensitive information exposed in public settings or mishandled due to poor design.
  • Staffing cuts: Overwhelmed, under-resourced offices with no capacity to assist digitally locked-out users.

Personal experience confirms these issues: in February 2024, I was locked out of my employer’s HR portal required to access benefits, and even HR personnel could not help. This impasse is no anomaly but a widespread and worsening issue.

 

The Catch-22 Design

The crisis is cyclical and self-reinforcing:

  • Users require portal access to report lockouts or request help.
  • Without access, no password resets or identity verification can be completed.
  • Legal recourse to challenge these failures requires access to courts or attorneys who themselves often rely on the same broken systems.
  • This creates a procedural deadlock denying meaningful access to justice and rights, a digital Kafkaesque trap.

 

The failures discussed have profound legal consequences:

  • ADA and Accessibility Violations: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws, inaccessible portals constitute discrimination. DOJ enforcement actions and lawsuits have upheld this principle.
  • Due Process Violations: Denying individuals access to appeal or contest decisions violates constitutional rights.
  • Employment Law Breaches: Employees locked out of HR systems face risks under ERISA, FMLA, and other statutes requiring benefit and leave access.
  • Negligence and Duty of Care: Organizations failing to provide fallback systems may be liable for harm caused by inaccessible services.
  • Privacy and Data Security Risks: Mishandling personal information during forced public disclosures or through insecure portals risks violations of HIPAA, CCPA, GLBA, and others.

 

Despite this, many organizations continue these practices without adequate oversight.

 

The Perfect Crime | Digital Obstruction of Justice

Hunter Storm almost titled this paper, The Perfect Crime | How Broken Portals and Lack of Human Workers Is Killing Due Process. However, that title only describes part of the issue. Digital obstruction of justice is aptly called the perfect crime because:

  • Responsibility is diffused or hidden behind automated systems.
  • Users cannot challenge the system because they are locked out of the very mechanisms that would allow it.
  • Legal remedies are unavailable if access to courts or counsel is blocked digitally.

 

“Digital obstruction of justice is not denied overtly; it is justice rendered impossible.” – Hunter Storm

 

Wider Implications

Unchecked, this phenomenon threatens the foundations of democratic governance and civil society by:

  • Eroding trust in institutions.
  • Exacerbating inequality and marginalization.
  • Creating a disenfranchised digital underclass.
  • Undermining the rule of law itself.

 

How to Stop Digital Obstruction of Justice

To combat this crisis, organizations and regulators must:

  • Mandate human-accessible fallback options for all essential digital services.
  • Enforce compliance with accessibility laws, including mandatory audits.
  • Establish minimum digital rights that guarantee access to legal recourse regardless of system status.
  • Train personnel to prioritize privacy, dignity, and empathy in service delivery.
  • Encourage transparency and accountability in digital system design and maintenance.

 

  • ACLU Reports on Digital Rights and Accessibility: Including cases of systemic digital disenfranchisement.
  • Harvard Law Review, Due Process in the Digital Age (2019): Exploration of due process challenges with modern digital government services.
  • National Council on Disability (NCD) Reports: On digital accessibility barriers and recommendations.
  • U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Web Accessibility Initiative: Enforcement of ADA compliance in digital services.
  • W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI): Guidelines and standards for digital accessibility worldwide.

 

These sources provide foundational context and legal frameworks informing this paper’s arguments.

 

Alphabetized Glossary

  • ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): U.S. civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability, including requirements for digital accessibility.
  • Catch-22: A paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations.
  • Digital Obstruction of Justice: The use of flawed or inaccessible digital systems to prevent users from exercising rights or accessing services.
  • Due Process: Legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, including fair procedures and opportunity to be heard.
  • ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act): U.S. federal law regulating employee benefit plans.
  • FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act): U.S. law providing employees with unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons.
  • GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act): U.S. law regulating the handling of private financial information.
  • HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): U.S. law protecting sensitive patient health information.
  • Lockout Loop: A situation where a user cannot access a system because recovery processes require credentials or information only available after access.
  • Negligence: Legal failure to exercise reasonable care resulting in damage or injury to another.
  • Procedural Deadlock: A situation where a legal or administrative process cannot proceed because of mutually dependent or conflicting conditions.
  • Privacy Violation: Unauthorized access, disclosure, or mishandling of personally identifiable information.
  • Social Security Number (SSN): A U.S. government-issued number used for identification; sensitive personal information requiring protection.

 

Expert Witness or Litigation? | Navigating the Path Forward

The systemic failures locking users out of legal recourse present a grave civil rights issue. Given the pervasive nature of these failures and the high stakes for individuals locked out of legal recourse, I am offering my expertise as a consultant, expert witness, regulatory consultant, and policy advisor to support broader reform efforts. Acting as an expert witness enables influencing systemic reform through multiple cases

  • Providing credibility and shaping legal standards.
  • Policy advisor to review and influence governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), as well as provide expert policy advisory.

 

Ultimately, I aim to use my unique combination of firsthand experience, deep technical and procedural expertise, and principled approach to be a powerful agent of change – whether in the courtroom, the legislature, or through public advocacy and legislation. Litigation offers the power to compel immediate action through legal pressure and settlements. However, it can be resource-intensive, adversarial, and may divert focus from systemic solutions. Conversely, serving as a consultant, advisor, and expert witness leverages my 31 years of experience and firsthand insights to inform multiple cases, shape legal precedents, and influence policy reforms. This path fosters sustainable change by addressing root causes rather than isolated incidents.

 

Offering Expert Consultation, Compliance, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, and Systems Architecture Services

I offer specialized consulting services to organizations seeking to correct and comply with ADA and other regulatory requirements related to digital accessibility and legal process integrity. Many companies claim ADA compliance, but all too often it is reduced to a checkbox exercise rather than a meaningful, end-to-end approach. I bring a unique combination of:

  • Deep backend architecture and system design expertise
  • Legal and regulatory risk assessment and risk management experience
  • Hands-on experience navigating these systems under physical challenges caused by hand and wrist impairments, providing critical insight into true accessibility issues

 

My goal is to help companies build compliant, secure, and genuinely accessible systems that meet not only legal standards but also real-world user needs.

 

Call to Action

If you or your organization:

  • Face challenges with digital accessibility or legal recourse systems
  • Need expert testimony or consulting on compliance and risk mitigation
  • Are involved in legal, regulatory, or advocacy work related to these issues

 

I invite you to connect with me, Hunter Storm.

Together, we can:

  • Raise awareness about digital obstruction of justice
  • Develop expert evidence for litigation and reform
  • Design and implement systems that are truly accessible, secure, and compliant
  • Ensure no one is locked out of their rights by broken portals

 

Justice delayed by broken portals is justice denied. Let’s open the gates together.

 

“This is not just about me. This is about all of us—because systems that lock people out today will eventually lock out everyone. If you’re an enterprise leader, compliance officer, or architect who wants to fix this before it becomes your problem too, I’m here to help.” – Hunter Storm

 

Discover More from Hunter Storm

 

About the Author | Hunter Storm | Technology Executive | Global Thought Leader | Keynote Speaker

CISO | Advisory Board Member | SOC Black Ops Team | Systems Architect | Strategic Policy Advisor | Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator | Cyber-Physical-Psychological Hybrid Threat Expert | Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage

Background

Hunter Storm is a veteran Fortune 100 Chief Information Security Officer (CISO); Advisory Board Member; Security Operations Center (SOC) Black Ops Team Member; Systems Architect; Risk Assessor; Strategic Policy and Intelligence Advisor; Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Innovator, and Cyber-Physical-Psychological (Cyber-Phys-Psy) Hybrid Threat Expert; and Keynote Speaker with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies.

Drawing on decades of experience in global Fortune 100 enterprises, including Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, and American Express; aerospace and high-tech manufacturing leaders such as Alcoa and Special Devices (SDI) / Daicel Safety Systems (DSS); and leading technology services firms such as CompuCom, she guides organizations through complex technical, strategic, and operational challenges.

Hunter Storm combines technical mastery with real-world operational resilience in high-stakes environments.

Global Expert and Subject Matter Expert (SME) | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Strategic Intelligence

A recognized subject matter expert (SME) with top-tier expert networks including GLG (Top 1%), AlphaSights, and Third Bridge, Hunter Storm advises Board Members, CEOs, CTOs, CISOs, Founders, and Senior Executives across technology, finance, and consulting sectors. Her insights have shaped policy, strategy, and high-risk decision-making at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, quantum technology, and human-technical threat surfaces.

Projects | Research and Development (R&D) | Frameworks

Hunter Storm is the creator of The Storm Project: AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and the Future of Intelligence, the largest AI research initiative in history.

She is the originator of the Hacking Humans: Ports and Services Model of Social Engineering, a foundational framework in psychological operations (PsyOps) and biohacking, adopted by governments, enterprises, and global security communities.

Hunter Storm also pioneered the first global forensic mapping of digital repression architecture, suppression, and censorship through her project Discrimination by Design: First Global Forensic Mapping of Digital Repression Architecture, monitoring platform accountability and digital suppression worldwide.

Achievements and Awards

Hunter Storm is a Mensa member and recipient of the Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award, reflecting her enduring influence on AI, cybersecurity, quantum, technology, strategy, and global security.

Hunter Storm | The Ultimate Asymmetric Advantage

Hunter Storm is known for solving problems most won’t touch. She combines technical mastery, operational agility, and strategic foresight to protect critical assets and shape the future at the intersection of technology, strategy, and high-risk decision-making.

Hunter Storm reframes human-technical threat surfaces to expose vulnerabilities others miss, delivering the ultimate asymmetric advantage.

Discover Hunter Storm’s full About the Author biography and career highlights.

Professional headshot of Hunter Storm, a global strategic leader, AI expert, cybersecurity expert, quantum computing expert, strategic research and intelligence, singer, and innovator wearing a confident expression. The image conveys authority, expertise, and forward-thinking leadership in cybersecurity, AI security, and intelligence strategy.

Securing the Future | AI, Cybersecurity, Quantum computing, innovation, risk management, hybrid threats, security. Hunter Storm (“The Fourth Option”) is here. Let’s get to work.

Confidential Contact

Consultations, engagements, board memberships, leadership roles, policy advisory, legal strategy, expert witness, or unconventional problems that require highly unconventional solutions.