Microsoft Deletes User’s 25-Year-Old Account With Thousands Spent on Games and His Son’s Baby Pictures After It Was Hacked
Microsoft has deleted a user’s account and all associated digital content after it was compromised, sparking renewed criticism of digital ownership practices. Joshua Khane lost access to 25 years of accumulated digital belongings after his account was hacked, but the situation worsened when Microsoft’s support team permanently deleted his account rather than restoring access—even after verifying his identity as the rightful owner.
Khane’s losses include his entire Xbox game library (valued at thousands of euros), all files stored in OneDrive cloud storage, and irreplaceable personal data including photographs of his infant son. The incident has drawn widespread attention on social media, with Khane expressing bitter frustration over Microsoft’s handling of the situation.
This is not an isolated incident. Microsoft previously faced legal action from another Xbox user, Ordo_Liberal, for blocking their entire game library following a similar account dispute. The court case resulted in a $400 settlement, suggesting Microsoft had already been put on notice about such practices. Yet the identical scenario has apparently repeated with Khane.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about digital ownership rights and the fragility of accounts linked to major platforms. Users who invest significant money and personal data in ecosystem-locked platforms like Xbox face the risk of losing everything if their account is compromised, as the platform holder retains unilateral authority over account termination with limited recourse for users.