M365 Changelog: Microsoft Purview Data Lifecycle Management: Retention policy support for Microsoft Teams control messages

MC528979 – Microsoft Teams control messages are system-generated artifacts that contain information about actions taken in Teams – for example, adding or removing a user from a chat. These messages show up on the Teams client as system messages. Ex. User A added User B to the chat and shared all chat history. More information on these types of messages can be found here.

Until now, control messages were not included in the supported types of messages for retention policies for Teams (user chats, standard channels, shared channels, and private channel user messages).

Microsoft is pleased to announce an improvement to add support for retention and deletion of some types of Teams control messages using retention policies for Teams (“Phase 1”). Phase 1 includes support for control messages generated while adding or removing a member to a chat or Team, within Teams chats and Teams channels locations.

A separate communication will be shared for Phase 2.

When this will happen:

Phase 1 will begin rolling out in late March and will be complete in April.

How this will affect your organization:

These specific types of Teams control messages will now be governed per the rules specified in your Teams user chat and Teams channel messages retention policies. This inclusion happens automatically, no changes are required to your configuration. 

What you need to do to prepare:

No action is needed to enable this change; however, you may want to communicate this change to the team responsible for Data Lifecycle Management at your organization. 

Additional information