What can an AI agent do with
Search public channels?
Lets an AI app search messages and files in public channels to answer questions. Works with a bot token or a user token.
How to spot it
On a Slack connection or settings screen, this is search:read.public.
With it, an agent can
- Search messages and files in the workspace's public channels
It cannot, on its own
- Search private channels or DMs (separate permissions)
- Send or change anything
What a bad day looks like
The agent surfaces an old public message that shared something by mistake, like a phone number or login link, in one of its answers.
Set it up safer
- Keep sensitive material out of public channels
- Prefer this over the broader search:read
Ask the company selling the agent
- Do you keep a copy of what the search returns?
- Is this a bot token or a user token?
Source
Checked against Slack documentation on 2026-09-28. All Slack permissions →
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This page explains what a permission allows. It does not describe, test or rate any product. Permission details are summarized in our own words from the provider's documentation, linked on the page; providers change their documentation, so check the source before you rely on a detail.