A policy, associated with a group, controls user subscription to and unsubscription from that group. In one embodiment, there are at least four policies for subscribing/unsubscribing: open, open with filter, control through workflow and closed. An open policy does not restrict subscription or unsubscription. The open with filter policy requires that a user satisfy a rule to subscribe, but does not require that the rule be satisfied to unsubscribe. The control through workflow policy requires a user to subscribe or unsubscribe through a workflow process. A close policy prohibits the subscription to or unsubscription from the group.