Microsoft Deletes User’s Baby Pictures Rather Than Restore Hacked Account

Microsoft cannot seem to avoid stepping on rake after rake, seemingly speedrunning its way into becoming the most hated video game company of the last five years. This time, instead of laying off thousands of developers or leaving storied studios twisting in uncertain winds, it deleted a 25-year-old account belong to Joshua Khane. As first reported by IGN, Khane said that after his account was hacked, he reached out to Microsoft customer support to see if there was anything they could do to help him.

He received an email from Microsoft that acknowledged he was the rightful owner of the account. However, Microsoft said that because security information had been changed, in order to adhere to protocols outlined in Microsoft’s terms of service, his account would be permanently and irreversibly suspended.

“25 fucking years of data, thousands of euros spended [sic] on games?? My son’s baby pictures? GONE!” Khane said in a post on X.

Microsoft DELETED my account AND OneDrive!!?? After ACKNOWLEDGING that I’m the owner of the account and that it was compromised???

25 fucking years of data, thousands of euros spended on games?? My son’s baby pictures? GONE!

All because MICROSOFT couldn’t bring back a… pic.twitter.com/sItv5eQFAQ

— Joshua Khane (@JoshuaKhane) July 14, 2026

Was it really necessary for Microsoft to completely wipe out a user’s digital library when there have been recent examples of the company restoring hacked accounts? Earlier this month, a man in Brazil sued Microsoft after the company told him it could not restore his hacked account and that he should simply repurchase the games he lost. The man won his court case and Microsoft was ordered to restore the man’s account, though it’s unclear if that’s happened yet. Though consumer protections in Brazil are stricter than elsewhere, it seems like an unforced error to court this kind of negative press when the solution seems incredibly simple.

On X, Microsoft responded to Khane’s post apologizing for the deletion and saying it’s working on restoring access to his purchases. Hopefully he’ll be able to get back his baby pictures, too.