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Microsoft gave customers' BitLocker encryption keys to the FBI — Redmond confirms that it provides recovery keys to government agencies with valid legal orders

  • [email protected] (Jowi Morales) , Jowi Morales--Tom's Hardware UK
  • published date: 2026-01-24 12:20:00 UTC

Microsoft is said to have cooperated with the FBI and released the backup BitLocker encryption key of one user stored in its servers to the agency after receiving a valid search warrant.

The FBI served a search warrant to Microsoft in early 2025 to recover the encryption keys on three laptops, with the company complying to allow the agency to access the data on the devices that it ot… [+2504 chars]