Could Microsoft restrict access to file backups via Microsoft Account?

Question

I read many accounts of Google locking out users from their Google Accounts and providing no available recourse, so I moved to Microsoft OneDrive and an external drive backup system.However, with the recent release of Windows 11, and the ensuing discussion around the always-online account structure required to use W11 machines, I realized that my locally-stored XLSXs, DOCXs, OneNote Notebooks, etc. are all tagged with my Microsoft Account information.This leads me to ask: if Microsoft were to ban my account [1], could they then stop me from opening my backup files on a new machine, even if I made a new account?[1]: I have not heard any stories of this happening to Windows users, but given the current tech landscape I don't want to take any chances.

thesuperbigfrog · Accepted Answer

>> if Microsoft were to ban my account [1], could they then stop me from opening my backup files on a new machine, even if I made a new account?
If your documents are tagged with the banned account info, it certainly seems possible.
It seems like a really dirty thing to do, but there are lots of HN users who are against the Microsoft account requirement for Windows 11: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27659988
Possible issues like these are one reason why free and open source software exist: https://youtu.be/Ag1AKIl_2GM?t=57

sylens · Answer

What would the difference be between an Excel spreadsheet sitting on an external hard drive being used as a backup copy, and that same Excel spreadsheet being emailed to an acquaintance or customer for a work purpose? Locking everyone out based on the Microsoft Account of the creator would break so many things in the Office ecosystem, I can't fathom that being worth trying to implement.