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Microsoft Gives FBI Encryption Keys in Fraud Probe

1/23/2026

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Story summary
  • Microsoft provided BitLocker encryption keys to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for an investigation into COVID unemployment fraud in Guam, marking the first known instance of such compliance.
  • The company said it responds to valid legal requests and receives about 20 annually.
  • Experts recommend storing keys in hardware rather than the cloud to enhance user protection, underscoring the ongoing privacy versus law-enforcement tension.