A new report reveals that Microsoft provided encryption keys for BitLocker-protected data to the FBI, allowing federal investigators to access information stored on three laptops during an active criminal investigation.
According to Forbes, Microsoft handed over the BitLocker recovery keys in early 2025 following a legally valid request tied to an alleged unemployment fraud case in Guam. The investigation is ongoing, with local media reporting that at least seven individuals have been charged so far.
BitLocker, Microsoft’s built-in Windows encryption tool, is used by millions of users worldwide and has been enabled by default on many devices since the launch of Windows 11. Users can choose to store recovery keys locally or on Microsoft’s servers — a choice that proved critical in this case.
Microsoft spokesperson Charles Chamberlayne told Forbes that the company will comply with federal requests when presented with a valid court order, adding that Microsoft receives roughly 20 BitLocker key requests per year. This marks the first publicly documented instance of Microsoft actually handing over such keys.
Court documents suggest the FBI may not have been able to decrypt the data without Microsoft’s help. A forensic expert linked to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) stated the agency lacked tools to bypass BitLocker encryption independently.
The move has sparked debate, especially when compared to Apple’s long-standing refusal to provide encryption backdoors. Apple CEO Tim Cook famously opposed similar demands in 2016, calling them government overreach. WhatsApp and other tech firms have also backed resistance to forced decryption.
Cryptography expert Matt Green of Johns Hopkins University warned that handing over encryption keys grants access to entire hard drives, raising concerns about privacy and potential misuse.
The case highlights growing tensions between law enforcement access and digital privacy protections in the tech industry.