Slack · Privacy Policy

What This Policy Covers

This is Slack's privacy policy for its workplace messaging platform and websites, effective July 5, 2023. It explains how Slack collects and uses data about you — but it's important to understand that your employer (the "Customer") controls most of what happens to your actual messages and files, not Slack directly. Slack acts as a processor for that content, following your employer's instructions. This policy mainly governs "Other Information" — things like your account details, usage patterns, and device data — which Slack controls directly.

What Slack Collects and Why

Slack automatically collects a wide range of data beyond your messages: your IP address, device details, browser type, location (approximated from IP or your employer's address), how you use features (which channels, links, and files you interact with), cookies, and audio/video metadata from Huddles and Clips. If your employer connects third-party apps to your Workspace, Slack may also receive data from those services. Slack uses this data to run and improve the service, personalize your experience, target advertisements on non-Slack websites, comply with legal requests, and send you marketing emails (which you can opt out of).

Who Slack Shares Your Data With

Slack shares data with a broad range of parties: your employer and workspace administrators (who can access, export, and modify your data), third-party service providers (cloud hosting, analytics, security vendors), third-party app integrations your employer enables, event sponsors if you attend a Slack webinar or conference, corporate affiliates, lawyers and auditors, and law enforcement if legally required. Slack also shares identifiers and browsing activity with third-party advertisers for ad targeting on other websites — though it says it does not "sell" data as defined under California law. During a merger or acquisition, your data could be transferred to a new owner.

Your Rights and Data Retention

You can request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data via your account settings or by emailing privacy@slack.com. California residents have additional rights under the CCPA, including opting out of ad-targeting data sharing (via a Global Privacy Control in your browser). EEA and UK users can object to processing based on legitimate interests and can complain to their local data protection authority. Slack keeps your "Other Information" for as long as needed for its business purposes — which can extend beyond account deactivation — with no specific time limit stated. Your message and file data retention is set by your employer, not Slack.