Slack utilizing user data for AI training without explicit consent
Slack is training its artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models on user data without obtaining explicit permission. This revelation was made by Corey Quinn, an executive at DuckBill Group. He discovered this policy in a section of Slack's Privacy Principles which states, "To develop AI/ML models, our systems analyze Customer Data (e.g. messages, content, and files) submitted to Slack as well as Other Information (including usage information) as defined in our Privacy Policy and in your customer agreement."
Data usage policy is opt-in by default
Slack's data usage policy is opt-in by default, meaning that users' private data is used unless they specifically request otherwise. However, the process to opt-out isn't straightforward. Users are required to ask their organization's Slack admin to email the company on their behalf. The privacy notice instructs, "To opt out, please have your Org or Workspace Owners or Primary Owner contact our Customer Experience team at feedback@slack.com with your Workspace/Org URL and the subject line 'Slack Global model opt-out request.'"
Slack's response to privacy policy concerns
In response to Quinn's concerns about the policy, Slack clarified that it uses platform-level machine-learning models for features like channel, emoji recommendations, and search results. The company stated, "And yes, customers can exclude their data from helping train those (non-generative) ML models." However, it remains unclear when this policy was added to Slack's terms.
Inconsistencies in policies raise questions
Slack's privacy policies have raised further questions due to inconsistencies. One section asserts that when developing AI/ML models or analyzing customer data, Slack can't access underlying content due to technical measures preventing this. However, this seems contradictory to the ML model training policy which implies that user data is analyzed. Adding to the confusion is Slack's webpage statement, marketing its premium generative AI tools, "Work without worry. Your data is your data. We don't use it to train Slack AI."
