diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
index e943701cab..af8408ba8f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from django.core.files.uploadedfile import SimpleUploadedFile
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
 from django.test import RequestFactory, TestCase
 from django.test.client import MULTIPART_CONTENT
+from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.urls import reverse as django_reverse
 from django.utils.translation import gettext as _
 from edx_toggles.toggles.testutils import override_waffle_flag
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.oauth_dispatch.adapters import DOTAdapter
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.oauth_dispatch.tests.factories import AccessTokenFactory, ApplicationFactory
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration import helpers as configuration_helpers
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration.tests.mixins import SiteMixin
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.site_configuration.tests.test_util import with_site_configuration_context
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.preferences.api import delete_user_preference
 from openedx.core.lib.teams_config import TeamsConfig
 from openedx.core.lib.xblock_utils import grade_histogram
@@ -2739,6 +2741,63 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollment
             assert student_json['city'] == student.profile.city
             assert student_json['country'] == ''
 
+    def test_get_students_features_private_fields(self):
+        """
+        Test that the get_students_features does not return the private fields
+        if they are by default in the `PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS` setting.
+        """
+        url = reverse("get_students_features", kwargs={"course_id": str(self.course.id)})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {})
+        res_json = json.loads(response.content.decode("utf-8"))
+
+        assert "students" in res_json
+        for student in res_json["students"]:
+            for field in settings.PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS:
+                assert field not in student
+
+    def test_get_students_features_private_fields_with_custom_config(self):
+        """
+        Test that the get_students_features does not return the private custom
+        fields set in the `PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS` setting.
+        """
+        private_fields = ["email", "location", "gender"]
+
+        with override_settings(PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS=private_fields):
+            url = reverse("get_students_features", kwargs={"course_id": str(self.course.id)})
+            response = self.client.post(url, {})
+            res_json = json.loads(response.content.decode("utf-8"))
+
+            assert "students" in res_json
+            for student in res_json["students"]:
+                for field in private_fields:
+                    assert field not in student
+
+    @override_settings(PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS=[])
+    def test_get_students_features_private_fields_empty(self):
+        """
+        Test that the get_students_features returns all the fields if the
+        `PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS` setting is empty.
+        """
+        custom_config = {
+            "student_profile_download_fields": [
+                "id",
+                "username",
+                "email",
+                "language",
+                "year_of_birth",
+            ]
+        }
+
+        with with_site_configuration_context(configuration=custom_config):
+            url = reverse("get_students_features", kwargs={"course_id": str(self.course.id)})
+            response = self.client.post(url, {})
+            res_json = json.loads(response.content.decode("utf-8"))
+
+            assert "students" in res_json
+            for student in res_json["students"]:
+                for field in custom_config["student_profile_download_fields"]:
+                    assert field in student
+
     @ddt.data(True, False)
     def test_get_students_features_cohorted(self, is_cohorted):
         """
@@ -2800,6 +2859,16 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollment
             else:
                 assert student_json['external_user_key'] == ''
 
+    def test_get_students_features_without_permissions(self):
+        """ Test that get_students_features returns 403 without credentials. """
+
+        # removed both roles from courses for instructor
+        CourseDataResearcherRole(self.course.id).remove_users(self.instructor)
+        CourseInstructorRole(self.course.id).remove_users(self.instructor)
+        url = reverse('get_students_features', kwargs={'course_id': str(self.course.id)})
+        response = self.client.post(url, {})
+        assert response.status_code == 403
+
     def test_get_students_who_may_enroll(self):
         """
         Test whether get_students_who_may_enroll returns an appropriate
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 8c842f6c4c..8fdfd06ae2 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -1497,7 +1497,6 @@ class GetStudentsFeatures(DeveloperErrorViewMixin, APIView):
                 'year_of_birth', 'gender', 'level_of_education', 'mailing_address',
                 'goals', 'enrollment_mode', 'last_login', 'date_joined', 'external_user_key'
             ]
-        keep_field_private(query_features, 'year_of_birth')  # protected information
 
         # Provide human-friendly and translatable names for these features. These names
         # will be displayed in the table generated in data_download.js. It is not (yet)
@@ -1509,8 +1508,7 @@ class GetStudentsFeatures(DeveloperErrorViewMixin, APIView):
             'email': _('Email'),
             'language': _('Language'),
             'location': _('Location'),
-            #  'year_of_birth': _('Birth Year'),  treated as privileged information as of TNL-10683,
-            #  not to go in reports
+            'year_of_birth': _('Birth Year'),
             'gender': _('Gender'),
             'level_of_education': _('Level of Education'),
             'mailing_address': _('Mailing Address'),
@@ -1521,6 +1519,10 @@ class GetStudentsFeatures(DeveloperErrorViewMixin, APIView):
             'external_user_key': _('External User Key'),
         }
 
+        for field in settings.PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS:
+            keep_field_private(query_features, field)
+            query_features_names.pop(field, None)
+
         if is_course_cohorted(course.id):
             # Translators: 'Cohort' refers to a group of students within a course.
             query_features.append('cohort')
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index c0fb469124..e0f106ee80 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -4257,6 +4257,14 @@ ACCOUNT_VISIBILITY_CONFIGURATION = {
     ],
 }
 
+# .. setting_name: PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS
+# .. setting_default: ["year_of_birth"]
+# .. setting_description: List of private fields that will be hidden from the profile information report.
+# .. setting_use_cases: open_edx
+# .. setting_creation_date: 2025-07-07
+# .. setting_tickets: https://github.com/openedx/edx-platform/pull/36688
+PROFILE_INFORMATION_REPORT_PRIVATE_FIELDS = ["year_of_birth"]
+
 # The list of all fields that are shared with other users using the bulk 'all_users' privacy setting
 ACCOUNT_VISIBILITY_CONFIGURATION["bulk_shareable_fields"] = (
     ACCOUNT_VISIBILITY_CONFIGURATION["public_fields"] + [