Microsoft gave FBI a set of BitLocker encryption keys to unlock suspects’ laptops: reports

In a significant development, Microsoft has supplied the FBI with the necessary recovery keys to access encrypted data on the hard drives of three laptops involved in a federal probe, as reported by Forbes recently. BitLocker, a full-disk encryption feature that is commonly enabled on modern Windows computers, is designed to safeguard user data from unauthorized access when the device is locked or turned off. However, by default, these recovery keys are stored in Microsoft's cloud system, making them accessible to the company and law enforcement agencies when needed. The case in question pertains to individuals suspected of participating in fraudulent activities linked to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific. Local media, including Pacific Daily News, had previously reported on the issuance of a warrant to Microsoft regarding the hard drives of the suspects. Additionally, Kandit News highlighted that the FBI's request for the warrant came six months after the agency had confiscated the encrypted laptops. A Microsoft spokesperson has yet to provide comments to TechCrunch regarding this matter. The tech giant disclosed to Forbes that it occasionally releases BitLocker recovery keys to law enforcement, averaging around 20 requests annually. While this raises privacy concerns, cryptography expert and Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Green pointed out the risks posed by potential cybercriminals who might exploit vulnerabilities in Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. He emphasized that although hackers would require physical access to the hard drives to utilize any stolen recovery keys, the risks remain significant. Green expressed his frustrations over the situation on Bluesky, stating, "It's 2026 and these concerns have been known for years. Microsoft’s inability to secure critical customer keys is starting to make it an outlier from the rest of the industry."