diff --git a/src/ingestor.ts b/src/ingestor.ts
index 192595a2..30b02017 100644
--- a/src/ingestor.ts
+++ b/src/ingestor.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ export default async function ingestor(req) {
         body: message.body,
         discussion: message.discussion || '',
         choices: message.choices,
-        privacy: message.privacy || '',
+        privacy: message.privacy,
         labels: message.labels || [],
         start: message.start,
         end: message.end,
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ export default async function ingestor(req) {
         name: message.title,
         body: message.body,
         discussion: message.discussion || '',
-        privacy: message.privacy || '',
+        privacy: message.privacy,
         choices: message.choices,
         labels: message.labels || [],
         metadata: {
diff --git a/src/writer/proposal.ts b/src/writer/proposal.ts
index 789c0fdf..43817d90 100644
--- a/src/writer/proposal.ts
+++ b/src/writer/proposal.ts
@@ -102,11 +102,10 @@ export async function verify(body): Promise<any> {
     if (msg.payload.type !== space.voting.type) return Promise.reject('invalid voting type');
   }
 
-  if (
-    space.voting?.privacy !== 'any' &&
-    msg.payload.privacy &&
-    !(space.voting?.privacy === 'shutter' && msg.payload.privacy === 'shutter')
-  ) {
+  const spacePrivacy = space.voting?.privacy ?? 'any';
+  const proposalPrivacy = msg.payload.privacy;
+
+  if (proposalPrivacy !== undefined && spacePrivacy !== 'any' && spacePrivacy !== proposalPrivacy) {
     return Promise.reject('not allowed to set privacy');
   }
 
@@ -214,9 +213,9 @@ export async function action(body, ipfs, receipt, id): Promise<void> {
   const plugins = JSON.stringify(metadata.plugins || {});
   const spaceNetwork = spaceSettings.network;
   const proposalSnapshot = parseInt(msg.payload.snapshot || '0');
-  let privacy = spaceSettings.voting?.privacy || '';
+  let privacy = spaceSettings.voting?.privacy ?? 'any';
   if (privacy === 'any') {
-    privacy = msg.payload.privacy;
+    privacy = msg.payload.privacy ?? '';
   }
 
   let quorum = spaceSettings.voting?.quorum || 0;
diff --git a/src/writer/update-proposal.ts b/src/writer/update-proposal.ts
index 271f6366..680119cf 100644
--- a/src/writer/update-proposal.ts
+++ b/src/writer/update-proposal.ts
@@ -49,11 +49,10 @@ export async function verify(body): Promise<any> {
 
   if (proposal.author !== body.address) return Promise.reject('Not the author');
 
-  if (
-    space.voting?.privacy !== 'any' &&
-    msg.payload.privacy &&
-    !(space.voting.privacy === 'shutter' && msg.payload.privacy === 'shutter')
-  ) {
+  const spacePrivacy = space.voting?.privacy ?? 'any';
+  const proposalPrivacy = msg.payload.privacy;
+
+  if (proposalPrivacy !== undefined && spacePrivacy !== 'any' && spacePrivacy !== proposalPrivacy) {
     return Promise.reject('not allowed to set privacy');
   }
 
@@ -72,9 +71,9 @@ export async function action(body, ipfs): Promise<void> {
   const metadata = msg.payload.metadata || {};
   const plugins = JSON.stringify(metadata.plugins || {});
   const spaceSettings = await getSpace(msg.space);
-  let privacy = spaceSettings.voting?.privacy || '';
+  let privacy = spaceSettings.voting?.privacy ?? 'any';
   if (privacy === 'any') {
-    privacy = msg.payload.privacy;
+    privacy = msg.payload.privacy ?? '';
   }
 
   const proposal = {
diff --git a/test/unit/writer/proposal.test.ts b/test/unit/writer/proposal.test.ts
index f8b7268f..8dd623be 100644
--- a/test/unit/writer/proposal.test.ts
+++ b/test/unit/writer/proposal.test.ts
@@ -337,10 +337,10 @@ describe('writer/proposal', () => {
           });
         });
 
-        it('rejects a proposal with shutter privacy', () => {
+        it('accepts a proposal with shutter privacy', () => {
           return expect(
             writer.verify(updateInputPayload(input, { privacy: 'shutter' }))
-          ).rejects.toMatch('not allowed to set privacy');
+          ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
         });
 
         it('accepts a proposal with undefined privacy', () => {
@@ -402,6 +402,13 @@ describe('writer/proposal', () => {
             writer.verify(updateInputPayload(input, { privacy: undefined }))
           ).resolves.toBeUndefined();
         });
+
+        it('rejects a proposal with privacy empty string', async () => {
+          expect.assertions(1);
+          await expect(writer.verify(updateInputPayload(input, { privacy: '' }))).rejects.toMatch(
+            'not allowed to set privacy'
+          );
+        });
       });
     });