diff --git a/client/src/components/users/UserAvatar/UserAvatar.jsx b/client/src/components/users/UserAvatar/UserAvatar.jsx
index 323e717b..7abd5226 100755
--- a/client/src/components/users/UserAvatar/UserAvatar.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/users/UserAvatar/UserAvatar.jsx
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ const UserAvatar = React.memo(
 
     const [t] = useTranslation();
 
+    let avatarUrl = null;
+    if (user.avatar) {
+      avatarUrl = user.avatar.thumbnailUrls.cover180;
+    } else if (user.gravatarUrl) {
+      avatarUrl = user.gravatarUrl;
+    }
+
     const contentNode = (
       <span
         title={
@@ -65,13 +72,13 @@ const UserAvatar = React.memo(
           styles.wrapper,
           styles[`wrapper${upperFirst(size)}`],
           onClick && styles.wrapperHoverable,
-          !user.avatar && styles[`background${upperFirst(camelCase(getColor(user.name)))}`],
+          !avatarUrl && styles[`background${upperFirst(camelCase(getColor(user.name)))}`],
         )}
         style={{
-          background: user.avatar && `url("${user.avatar.thumbnailUrls.cover180}") center / cover`,
+          background: avatarUrl && `url("${avatarUrl}") center / cover`,
         }}
       >
-        {!user.avatar && <span className={styles.initials}>{initials(user.name).slice(0, 2)}</span>}
+        {!avatarUrl && <span className={styles.initials}>{initials(user.name).slice(0, 2)}</span>}
         {withCreatorIndicator && <span className={styles.creatorIndicator}>+</span>}
       </span>
     );
diff --git a/docker-compose-dev.yml b/docker-compose-dev.yml
index 60341a02..1c330338 100644
--- a/docker-compose-dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose-dev.yml
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ services:
       # - SMTP_PASSWORD=
       # - SMTP_FROM="Demo Demo" <demo@demo.demo>
       # - SMTP_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false
+
+      # Using Gravatar directly exposes user IPs and hashed emails to a third party (GDPR risk).
+      # Use a proxy you control for privacy, or leave commented out or empty to disable.
+      # GRAVATAR_BASE_URL=https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index fe9960f2..cae21f3b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -104,6 +104,10 @@ services:
       # - SMTP_PASSWORD__FILE=/run/secrets/smtp_password
       # - SMTP_FROM="Demo Demo" <demo@demo.demo>
       # - SMTP_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false
+
+      # Using Gravatar directly exposes user IPs and hashed emails to a third party (GDPR risk).
+      # Use a proxy you control for privacy, or leave commented out or empty to disable.
+      # GRAVATAR_BASE_URL=https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/
     depends_on:
       postgres:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/server/.env.sample b/server/.env.sample
index 2c64a033..0c9f3b86 100644
--- a/server/.env.sample
+++ b/server/.env.sample
@@ -75,3 +75,7 @@ SECRET_KEY=notsecretkey
 # SMTP_PASSWORD=
 # SMTP_FROM="Demo Demo" <demo@demo.demo>
 # SMTP_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false
+
+# Using Gravatar directly exposes user IPs and hashed emails to a third party (GDPR risk).
+# Use a proxy you control for privacy, or leave commented out or empty to disable.
+# GRAVATAR_BASE_URL=https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/
diff --git a/server/api/helpers/users/build-gravatar-url.js b/server/api/helpers/users/build-gravatar-url.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..408fc654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/api/helpers/users/build-gravatar-url.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*!
+ * Copyright (c) 2024 PLANKA Software GmbH
+ * Licensed under the Fair Use License: https://github.com/plankanban/planka/blob/master/LICENSE.md
+ */
+
+const crypto = require('crypto');
+
+module.exports = {
+  sync: true,
+
+  inputs: {
+    record: {
+      type: 'ref',
+      required: true,
+    },
+  },
+
+  fn(inputs) {
+    if (!sails.config.custom.gravatarBaseUrl) {
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const hash = crypto.createHash('md5').update(inputs.record.email).digest('hex');
+    return `${sails.config.custom.gravatarBaseUrl}${hash}?s=180&d=initials`;
+  },
+};
diff --git a/server/api/helpers/users/present-one.js b/server/api/helpers/users/present-one.js
index 856d1d20..226df8d9 100644
--- a/server/api/helpers/users/present-one.js
+++ b/server/api/helpers/users/present-one.js
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ module.exports = {
       termsType: sails.hooks.terms.getTypeByUserRole(inputs.record.role),
     };
 
+    const gravatarUrl = sails.helpers.users.buildGravatarUrl(inputs.record);
+
+    if (gravatarUrl) {
+      data.gravatarUrl = gravatarUrl;
+    }
+
     if (inputs.user) {
       const isForCurrentUser = inputs.record.id === inputs.user.id;
       const isForAdmin = inputs.user.role === User.Roles.ADMIN;
diff --git a/server/config/custom.js b/server/config/custom.js
index 296377cf..4cebc225 100644
--- a/server/config/custom.js
+++ b/server/config/custom.js
@@ -105,4 +105,6 @@ module.exports.custom = {
   smtpPassword: process.env.SMTP_PASSWORD,
   smtpFrom: process.env.SMTP_FROM,
   smtpTlsRejectUnauthorized: process.env.SMTP_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED !== 'false',
+
+  gravatarBaseUrl: process.env.GRAVATAR_BASE_URL,
 };