Microsoft handed over BitLocker recovery keys to the FBI to unlock encrypted data on three laptops tied to a fraud investigation involving the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program in Guam. BitLocker, a full-disk encryption feature on many Windows devices, typically protects user data from unauthorized access. However, recovery keys are automatically uploaded to Microsoft’s cloud, making them accessible to the company and, by extension, law enforcement agencies. In this case, the FBI obtained a warrant six months after seizing the laptops. Microsoft confirmed it receives an average of 20 requests for BitLocker recovery keys from authorities each year. While the company stresses privacy concerns, experts like Johns Hopkins professor Matthew Green highlight significant risks. He pointed out that if hackers compromise Microsoft’s cloud, they could potentially access these recovery keys. Although the hackers would still need physical access to the laptops, the vulnerabilities in cloud security raise ongoing questions about the integrity of customer data protection.