Microsoft Teams Introduces Automated Bot Blocking Policy

Microsoft Teams has introduced a new policy that allows administrators to automatically block identified external meeting bots from entering meetings. This is in response to concerns about unauthorized data-capture during sensitive discussions.

The company confirmed that it will roll out the change, which gives IT teams more control over validating meeting participants. The update adds a third option to the existing bot-management setting: BlockDetectedBots mode, which denies identified external bots entry outright.

Administrators can assign the stricter blocking policy tenant-wide or scope it to specific users and groups through the standard Teams meeting policy framework. Microsoft is staging the release in two phases, with targeted release tenants receiving the capability in early August 2026, and completion expected by late August.