Disable start new chats

[Enrique Sanchez]

Hello,

I want to prevent users to create new chats inside Microsoft Teams, but I want them to chat if they are invited to one chat. 

If I disabled Chat in messaging policies, they are not allowed to start nor to join to any chat.

I want that users of one group can't start new chats but they can collaborate in chats started by users of other group.

Are there any way?

Thanks in advance!

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Hola y buenas tardes @Enrique Sanchez,

Currently I don't think it is possible to create the scenario you are asking for. If the private chat function is disabled then that user cannot have a private chat with anyone and is forced to instead use a channel discussion within a Team if they want to start a conversation. This is no longer "private" as it will be visible by all other members of that team or private channel.

If you would like to suggest this is added then I recommend looking at UserVoice at: https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/.

I'm curious, why would you want to prevent a user from starting new chat but allow them to be invited to chat by others? It feels like a messy workaround but perhaps you could consider adding specific users to private channels to limit who they can chat with. You could then use channel moderation on the other channels within the Team to stop that same person posting into the other standard channels.

[#3]

Thank you for your response,  @LeeDrinkwater 

This company has a group of users that they don't want them chating with other collegues to avoid distractions during thier working hours. But they want that they could chat with their boss if the boss want to tell anything to someone. This is the reason to limit chat option.

The scenario is similar to a classromm in a school: you don't want that students could chat to each other, but you need that teachers could chat to one student if they need it.

[#4]

Thanks for clarifying @Enrique Sanchez.

The scenario for the classroom sounds like a good idea and there is already a suggestion on UserVoice for a similar feature: https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/555103-public/suggestions/40356793-allow-chat-calls-on-t....

[#5]

Thank you, @LeeDrinkwater.

There are another topics talking about this feature in UserVoice. For example: https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/555103-public/suggestions/35403904-moderate-channels-and...

I have been reading about Information Barriers (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-US/microsoftteams/information-barriers-in-teams), but you need 'Azure Active Directory Premium P2 '  and barriers involved every communication inside Teams, not only Chat.