Salesforce-owned Slack has reportedly blocked other software firms from searching for or storing Slack messages.
The move, first reported by The Information, stems from updates to its terms of service, which prevent third-party applications from copying, indexing, or permanently storing Slack messages via the Slack APIs.
Salesforce has framed the change as a proactive measure to strengthen customer data protection in an increasingly AI-driven environment.
“The new innovations we’ve announced, along with updates to Slack’s API Terms of Service, open the door for more intelligent, context-aware AI experiences and ensure that developers, customers, and partners can securely and responsibly interact with Slack data,” a Salesforce spokesperson told UC Today.
As AI raises critical considerations around how customer data is handled, we’re committed to delivering AI and data services in a way that’s thoughtful and transparent. We’re working closely with partners and developers who share these values, ensuring customers can adopt these new capabilities with confidence and control.”
According to the report, which cited an email intended for clients, AI firm Glean stated that the new restrictions will prevent its customers from incorporating Slack data into their search index or knowledge graphs, hampering their ability “to use your data with your chosen enterprise AI platform.”
API Shift Raises Data and AI Concerns
The move would effectively lock Slack data within the platform, meaning companies that previously integrated Slack into their services can only retain messages temporarily and must delete content acquired via API immediately after use.
For IT leaders, the Slack update isn’t just a technical tweak – it’s a potential strategic curveball with several implications:
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Compliance Risks: Many firms depend on third-party tools to archive Slack messages for legal and regulatory reasons. If message storage is curtailed, compliance strategies must adapt fast.
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AI Friction: Restrictions could suppress the flow of data to enterprise AI tools that rely on message histories to generate insights or train copilots.
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Integration Breakdown: A potential data silo stands apart from broader communication and knowledge platforms, weakening the ‘unified’ promise of UC.
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Vendor Lock-In Fears: With third-party access limited, organisations may be nudged toward Salesforce’s native AI offerings, raising fresh concerns about long-term platform dependency.
Will IT Leaders Have to Rethink Their Playbooks?
Last month, Salesforce revealed new measures to tighten control over how data accessed via Slack APIs is stored, utilised, and shared, reinforcing its focus on data privacy and stricter governance.
Meanwhile, AI companies are increasingly under the spotlight for their handling of personal and customer data in model training.
As the appetite for rich, high-quality datasets grows, organisations are being challenged to balance technological advancement with maintaining user trust.
As the tug-of-war between data privacy and data utility intensifies, UC leaders are being forced to rethink core infrastructure choices.
Alternative open-source platforms may gain new appeal in a world where openness and control are no longer guaranteed.
For now, one theme is emerging: the days of Slack-as-a-platform may be giving way to Slack-as-a-walled-garden – and UC professionals are on notice.
