Connect Slack

Last updated: August 3, 2026

Reef is a product of Lobster Computer, Inc. ("we", "us", "Reef"). This guide explains the shared Reef Slack app: what connecting it does, the access it requests, how Slack data is handled, and how to remove it. It does not describe separate per-agent Slack apps. Questions: privacy@lobstercomputer.com.

What connecting Slack does

Connecting Slack lets Reef bring messages you are allowed to see into your private Reef knowledge, so your agent can help you search, summarize, and keep up with work. Reef can receive new-message events and perform limited history catch-up so the connection stays current.

The shared app is read-only. It does not post, edit, or delete Slack messages; add reactions; join conversations; or manage your Slack workspace.

Two separate authorizations

Reef keeps workspace setup separate from each person's access:

1. Your personal Slack authorization lets Reef read as you. Slack applies your own channel membership and permissions, so Reef cannot use your authorization to read a private channel or direct message you cannot access.
2. The shared app's workspace installation lets Slack send supported events to Reef and lets Reef validate and catch up those events. A workspace admin may need to approve this installation. The workspace app's visibility never expands what Reef may show to an individual person.

People in the same Slack workspace do not inherit one another's Slack access.

Access the shared app requests

All scopes below are required for the listed shared-app capability. Reef does not request optional write access for this connection.

Slack scope	Authorization	Required	Why Reef requests it
channels:history	Personal and workspace	Yes	Read public-channel messages for summaries, event validation, and limited catch-up, within the conversations available to the authorizing person or app
channels:read	Personal	Yes	Identify the public channels the authorizing person can access
groups:history	Personal and workspace	Yes	Read private-channel messages without bypassing Slack's membership checks
groups:read	Personal	Yes	Identify the private channels the authorizing person belongs to
im:history	Personal and workspace	Yes	Read supported direct-message history
im:read	Personal	Yes	Identify the authorizing person's direct-message conversations
mpim:history	Personal and workspace	Yes	Read supported group direct-message history
mpim:read	Personal	Yes	Identify the authorizing person's group direct-message conversations
users:read	Personal	Yes	Resolve Slack member IDs to basic profile information, such as display names, so messages have understandable authors

How to connect Slack

1. Sign in to Reef and open Settings → Connections.
2. Find Slack and choose Connect.
3. Review Slack's authorization screen and approve the personal read access.
4. If Slack says workspace approval is required, follow your workspace's app request process or ask a Slack admin to install the shared Reef app.

How to disconnect or remove Slack

• Disconnect your personal access in Reef. Open Settings → Connections, find Slack, and choose Disconnect. Reef deletes your stored Slack authorization and stops reading new Slack data for you.
• Remove the shared app from a workspace. A Slack workspace admin can open Slack's Manage apps page, select Reef, and choose Remove App. Reef does not provide a workspace-wide uninstall control inside Reef.

These are separate operations: disconnecting yourself does not uninstall the app for coworkers, and removing the workspace app does not act as another person's consent decision.

How Slack data is handled

• Data used. Reef processes message content, conversation metadata, and basic member profile information only to provide connected Slack features.
• Credentials. Slack OAuth tokens are encrypted at rest and decrypted only in memory when needed to provide the connection.
• Content. Slack content brought into Reef is encrypted at rest and remains scoped to the person whose Slack authorization allowed access.
• Transport. Data moves over encrypted (TLS) connections.
• Use. Reef does not sell Slack data, use it for advertising, or use it to train general-purpose models.
• Deletion. Disconnecting stops new access and deletes the stored Slack authorization. To request deletion of your Reef account and associated data, contact privacy@lobstercomputer.com.

For more detail, read the Privacy Policy, Support guide, and Terms of Use.

Contact

Lobster Computer, Inc. — privacy@lobstercomputer.com