Team communication platforms power modern workplaces. We analyzed the terms of service from leading chat applications to help you understand data retention, privacy policies, and employer access rights.
Team chat applications have become essential for workplace communication, storing sensitive business conversations, files, and personal messages. These platforms control vast amounts of corporate and personal data, with terms covering employer monitoring rights, data retention policies, and what happens when employees leave. Understanding these terms is crucial for both organizations selecting platforms and individual employees using them.
| Platform | Score | Grade | Data Retention | Admin Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Chat Best in Category | 65 | B- | Workspace admin | Full admin access |
| Discord | 58 | C+ | User-controlled | Server owner |
| Microsoft Teams | 52 | C | Admin-controlled | Full admin access |
| Slack Lowest in Category | 45 | C- | Employer-set | Full admin access |
Part of Google Workspace. Extensive data collection combined with Workspace admin access creates privacy concerns.
Read Full Review →Originally for gamers, now used by communities and teams. Better user control but extensive data collection for personalization.
Read Full Review →Integrated with Microsoft 365. Enterprise admin controls allow full message access and compliance monitoring.
Read Full Review →Leading enterprise chat platform. Employers have extensive message access rights and data retention control.
Read Full Review →Our analysis evaluates terms of service based on data retention policies, employer/admin access rights, message export capabilities, end-to-end encryption options, data portability, and what happens to your messages when you leave an organization. Team chat platforms receive particular scrutiny for privacy implications in professional contexts.