Introduction
Salesforce, the global CRM leader and parent company of Slack, has taken a bold step by limiting third-party AI applications from accessing and storing Slack messages via its API. The decision, first reported by The Information on June 11, 2025, highlights increasing concerns around data privacy, control, and AI model training practices.
This move directly impacts companies like Glean, a rising star in enterprise AI search, which now faces barriers in incorporating Slack data into its knowledge graph and search index.
What Salesforce Changed
According to a May 29 policy update on Salesforce’s website, the company is “reinforcing safeguards around how data accessed via Slack APIs can be stored, used, and shared.” The policy applies particularly to data accessed by external software via Slack’s APIs — standardized tools that allow apps to communicate and share functionality.
The result? Tools like Glean, which rely on API access to create enterprise-wide searchable knowledge repositories, can no longer index, copy, or store Slack messages long-term. While real-time data access may remain, long-term aggregation is blocked.
Why It Matters: The Glean Example
Glean reportedly informed its customers via email that this policy change would “hamper your ability to use your data with your chosen enterprise AI platform.” This means companies using Glean’s services will no longer be able to include Slack messages in their AI-powered search experiences — a major blow to productivity for AI-integrated teams.
Slack has become a central collaboration tool in many organizations, and its messages often contain critical institutional knowledge. Blocking access to that data limits the capabilities of third-party AI search platforms and gives Salesforce an upper hand in data monetization and internal AI development.
Salesforce’s Defense: Privacy and Transparency
In a public response, a Salesforce spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to “thoughtful and transparent” data use. They cited the growing importance of safeguarding customer data in an AI-driven world and denied that the policy specifically targets rivals.
This aligns with broader industry trends where companies are reevaluating how user-generated content can or should be used to train AI models — particularly in the wake of lawsuits, such as the one involving OpenAI and The New York Times over training data usage.
Growing Scrutiny on AI Firms and Data Practices
AI companies across the board are under increased scrutiny regarding how they collect and utilize user data. Both regulators and clients are asking harder questions about consent, compliance, and competitive fairness.
- GDPR and CCPA laws require explicit consent for data usage in many jurisdictions.
- Enterprise contracts often specify where and how data can be stored or processed.
- Training large language models on proprietary corporate data raises red flags around intellectual property rights and competitive behavior.
Strategic Implications for Salesforce
Salesforce’s API restriction could be seen as a defensive move to protect its own AI investments and products. As the company rolls out new AI-powered features within Slack, including integrations with Adobe Express, Perplexity, and others, it’s clear that Salesforce aims to own the entire AI stack within its ecosystem.
By limiting access to competitors, Salesforce increases dependency on its own tools — a smart strategy, but one that may raise antitrust concerns if the policy disproportionately disadvantages smaller or rival firms.
What This Means for Enterprise Users
Companies using AI services like Glean will need to reassess their tech stack:
- Can their enterprise search tools still function optimally?
- Should they prioritize platforms with native integrations inside Salesforce?
- Are new AI-data firewalls becoming the norm?
For AI vendors, the message is clear: data sovereignty is now a key battleground. Enterprises must ensure any third-party tool they adopt can continue to deliver value without violating host platform terms or data governance policies.
Conclusion
As AI reshapes how data is processed and applied, tech giants like Salesforce are drawing strict boundaries. The Slack API policy shift is a landmark moment — not just in terms of enterprise AI operations, but also in defining who gets access to the data that fuels the future.
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