diff --git a/src/components/profile/LocationDisplay.tsx b/src/components/profile/LocationDisplay.tsx
index ba4b2f87..bb36262b 100644
--- a/src/components/profile/LocationDisplay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/profile/LocationDisplay.tsx
@@ -19,25 +19,26 @@ export function LocationDisplay({ location, userId, isOwnProfile }: LocationDisp
   }, [userId, isOwnProfile]);
 
   const fetchLocationPrivacy = async () => {
-    // Always show location for own profile
-    if (isOwnProfile) {
-      setShowLocation(true);
-      return;
-    }
-
     try {
-      const { data } = await supabase
-        .from('user_preferences')
-        .select('privacy_settings')
-        .eq('user_id', userId)
-        .maybeSingle();
+      const { data: { user } } = await supabase.auth.getUser();
+      const viewerId = user?.id;
 
-      if (data?.privacy_settings) {
-        const settings = data.privacy_settings as any;
-        setShowLocation(settings.show_location || false);
+      // Use the secure function to check location visibility
+      const { data, error } = await supabase
+        .rpc('can_view_user_location', {
+          _viewer_id: viewerId,
+          _profile_user_id: userId
+        });
+
+      if (error) {
+        console.error('Error checking location privacy:', error);
+        setShowLocation(false);
+        return;
       }
+
+      setShowLocation(data || false);
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error fetching location privacy:', error);
+      console.error('Error checking location privacy:', error);
       setShowLocation(false);
     }
   };
diff --git a/src/components/profile/PersonalLocationDisplay.tsx b/src/components/profile/PersonalLocationDisplay.tsx
index 2a1467ea..67354037 100644
--- a/src/components/profile/PersonalLocationDisplay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/profile/PersonalLocationDisplay.tsx
@@ -16,23 +16,24 @@ export function PersonalLocationDisplay({ personalLocation, userId, isOwnProfile
   }, [userId, isOwnProfile]);
 
   const fetchLocationPrivacy = async () => {
-    // Always show location for own profile
-    if (isOwnProfile) {
-      setShowLocation(true);
-      return;
-    }
-
     try {
-      const { data } = await supabase
-        .from('user_preferences')
-        .select('privacy_settings')
-        .eq('user_id', userId)
-        .maybeSingle();
+      const { data: { user } } = await supabase.auth.getUser();
+      const viewerId = user?.id;
 
-      if (data?.privacy_settings) {
-        const settings = data.privacy_settings as any;
-        setShowLocation(settings.show_location || false);
+      // Use the secure function to check location visibility
+      const { data, error } = await supabase
+        .rpc('can_view_user_location', {
+          _viewer_id: viewerId,
+          _profile_user_id: userId
+        });
+
+      if (error) {
+        console.error('Error checking location privacy:', error);
+        setShowLocation(false);
+        return;
       }
+
+      setShowLocation(data || false);
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('Error fetching location privacy:', error);
       setShowLocation(false);
diff --git a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
index bc01c457..fa5d4b5f 100644
--- a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
+++ b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
@@ -964,6 +964,10 @@ export type Database = {
         }
         Returns: boolean
       }
+      can_view_user_location: {
+        Args: { _profile_user_id: string; _viewer_id: string }
+        Returns: boolean
+      }
       get_user_management_permissions: {
         Args: { _user_id: string }
         Returns: Json
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20250929221847_f44d59c9-f44e-46e4-959d-28281d563718.sql b/supabase/migrations/20250929221847_f44d59c9-f44e-46e4-959d-28281d563718.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c01383d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20250929221847_f44d59c9-f44e-46e4-959d-28281d563718.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+-- Fix user_preferences privacy exposure
+-- Drop the overly permissive policy
+DROP POLICY IF EXISTS "Allow reading privacy settings for permission checks" ON public.user_preferences;
+
+-- Create a restricted policy: users can only read their own preferences
+CREATE POLICY "Users can read their own preferences"
+ON public.user_preferences
+FOR SELECT
+TO authenticated
+USING (auth.uid() = user_id);
+
+-- Create a policy for moderators to read all preferences
+CREATE POLICY "Moderators can read all preferences"
+ON public.user_preferences
+FOR SELECT
+TO authenticated
+USING (is_moderator(auth.uid()));
+
+-- Create a security definer function to check if a user's location should be visible
+CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION public.can_view_user_location(_viewer_id uuid, _profile_user_id uuid)
+RETURNS boolean
+LANGUAGE plpgsql
+STABLE
+SECURITY DEFINER
+SET search_path = public
+AS $$
+DECLARE
+  user_privacy_settings jsonb;
+BEGIN
+  -- Always allow users to view their own location
+  IF _viewer_id = _profile_user_id THEN
+    RETURN true;
+  END IF;
+
+  -- Allow moderators to view all locations
+  IF is_moderator(_viewer_id) THEN
+    RETURN true;
+  END IF;
+
+  -- Check the user's privacy settings
+  SELECT privacy_settings INTO user_privacy_settings
+  FROM public.user_preferences
+  WHERE user_id = _profile_user_id;
+
+  -- If no privacy settings found, default to not showing location
+  IF user_privacy_settings IS NULL THEN
+    RETURN false;
+  END IF;
+
+  -- Check if the user has enabled location visibility
+  RETURN COALESCE((user_privacy_settings->>'show_location')::boolean, false);
+END;
+$$;
\ No newline at end of file