Salesforce has moved to block other software firms from searching or storing Slack messages.
The Salesforce-owned workplace messaging app recently made changes to its terms and services, according to The Information, which first reported on the announcement.
A spokesperson for Salesforce explained: "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."
Salesforce also explained it was "reinforcing safeguards around how data accessed via Slack APIs can be stored, used, and shared."
In a practical sense, this means applications that utilize Slack cannot index, copy, or store data it accesses through the API on a long-term basis.
Speaking to The Information, Glean - a workplace AI provider - said the changes are "hampering your ability to use your data with your chosen enterprise AI platform," citing an email intended for Glean customers.
The news comes at a time when AI firms are under particular scrutiny over the handling of personal and customer data, something particularly prevalent in using this data to train AI models.
Is This Really a Big Deal? Industry Reactions Say Yes!
After the Information went live with the news, it ripped through social media and became the dominant conversation for the day.
Some people proved more outspoken than others, such as Tim Glomb, Co-Founder of RavenEQ.ai, who exclaimed in a LinkedIn post:
[The] new terms of service for Slack APIs reveal their current intent: not to be your partner but rather to lock you up.
It’s undeniable that this policy decision has proven divisive.
For those against it, the key message is that tech providers must stay open to democratizing data.
