diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/migration/versions/5e27063c3ac9_set_privacy_hide_email_to_false_.py b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/migration/versions/5e27063c3ac9_set_privacy_hide_email_to_false_.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2381193baeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/migration/versions/5e27063c3ac9_set_privacy_hide_email_to_false_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+"""set privacy_hide_email to false temporarily
+
+Revision ID: 5e27063c3ac9
+Revises: 4d007819e61a
+Create Date: 2024-12-10 15:50:48.024204+00:00
+
+"""
+from alembic import op
+from sqlalchemy.sql import expression
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = "5e27063c3ac9"
+down_revision = "4d007819e61a"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # Change the server_default of privacy_hide_email to false
+    with op.batch_alter_table("users") as batch_op:
+        batch_op.alter_column("privacy_hide_email", server_default=expression.false())
+
+    # Reset all to default: Update existing values in the database
+    op.execute("UPDATE users SET privacy_hide_email = false")
+
+
+def downgrade():
+
+    # Revert the server_default of privacy_hide_email to true
+    with op.batch_alter_table("users") as batch_op:
+        batch_op.alter_column("privacy_hide_email", server_default=expression.true())
+
+    # Reset all to default: Revert existing values in the database to true
+    op.execute("UPDATE users SET privacy_hide_email = true")
diff --git a/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/models/users.py b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/models/users.py
index d42568d772f..bdff1293211 100644
--- a/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/models/users.py
+++ b/packages/postgres-database/src/simcore_postgres_database/models/users.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ class UserStatus(str, Enum):
         "privacy_hide_email",
         sa.Boolean,
         nullable=False,
-        server_default=expression.true(),
+        server_default=expression.false(),
         doc="If true, it hides users.email to others",
     ),
     #
diff --git a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/groups/_groups_api.py b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/groups/_groups_api.py
index 27b80baf821..ad76c9ba3d9 100644
--- a/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/groups/_groups_api.py
+++ b/services/web/server/src/simcore_service_webserver/groups/_groups_api.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ async def get_associated_group(
     user_id: UserID,
     group_id: GroupID,
 ) -> tuple[Group, AccessRightsDict]:
-    """
+    """NOTE: here it can also be a non-standard group
 
     raises GroupNotFoundError
     raises UserInsufficientRightsError: needs READ access