Update to Slack Privacy Policy Allows Employers to Read DM's

Employers will be able to choose whether they want coworkers to be notified their conversations are being monitored

The instant-messaging work tool Slack has announced new changes to its privacy policy that will allow employers to download and read direct messages sent between co-workers, NBC News BETTER reported.

Previously, Slack customers who purchased its premium "Plus" plan had the ability to download and read communications in Slack through a "Compliance Export". The report could not be done in real time, and employees in the Slack group were automatically notified that the boss was watching. 

The updated policy, effective April 20, will do away with compliance reports and instead allow "Plus" members to request access to “a self-service export tool” to download “all data from their workspace.” This includes “content from public and private channels and direct messages.” And employers will be able to choose whether they want coworkers to be notified their conversations are being monitored.

The company stated that policy changes are an attempt "to achieve a balance across regulatory requirements, user expectations and customers needs," Slack said in a statement to NBC News.

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