diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 69d87fb..5be79c3 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [1.3.12] - 2026-01-12
+
+### Added
+- New GM-only setting to allow private journal context in Archivist Chat; GM requests now send `gm_permissions` to `/v1/ask` when enabled.
+
 ## [1.3.11] - 2025-01-15
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3af49e7..423ce09 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ All sheets include:
 Available in Game Settings → Module Settings → Archivist Sync:
 
 - **API Key** (world): Your Archivist API key (obfuscated in the UI for security)
+- **Allow GM private journal context in chat** (world): When enabled, GM chat requests include private journal context during retrieval; non-GM requests never include it.
 - **Run World Setup Again** (menu): Reset initialization and relaunch the setup wizard
 - **Projection: Sidecar Only** (world): When enabled, never modify core system data fields; store descriptions only in sidecar journals.
 
@@ -153,7 +154,8 @@ Examples (representative; bodies vary by type):
   "messages": [
     { "role": "user", "content": "Who is the duke?" }
   ],
-  "stream": true
+  "stream": true,
+  "gm_permissions": false
 }
 ```
 
@@ -167,6 +169,7 @@ Examples (representative; bodies vary by type):
 - The API key is stored as a world-scoped setting and obfuscated in the UI.
 - Real‑Time Sync and the "Sync with Archivist" button execute only on GM clients.
 - The sidebar chat is available to all users once the world is configured and initialized.
+- GM chat requests can include private journal context during retrieval when the GM setting is enabled; non-GM requests always send `gm_permissions: false`.
 - All requests use HTTPS endpoints with CORS-safe headers and exponential backoff on `429` and network failures.
 
 ## Troubleshooting
@@ -269,4 +272,4 @@ Please see [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for detailed contribution guidelin
 
 ---
 
-Remember to update `module.json` URLs (`url`, `manifest`, `download`, `bugs`) to point to your repository and releases.
\ No newline at end of file
+Remember to update `module.json` URLs (`url`, `manifest`, `download`, `bugs`) to point to your repository and releases.
diff --git a/lang/en.json b/lang/en.json
index 2c849e5..b742d46 100644
--- a/lang/en.json
+++ b/lang/en.json
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
           "None": "None"
         }
       },
+      "ChatGmPermissions": {
+        "Name": "Allow GM private journal context in chat",
+        "Hint": "When enabled, GM chat requests include private journal context during retrieval. Non-GM users never send private context."
+      },
       "MappingOverride": {
         "Name": "Mapping Override (JSON)",
         "Hint": "Optional JSON rules to customize importer field mapping"
@@ -317,4 +321,4 @@
       }
     }
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/module.json b/module.json
index cba0cb1..dc7e52e 100644
--- a/module.json
+++ b/module.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
       "email": "cameron.b.llewellyn@gmail.com"
     }
   ],
-  "version": "1.3.11",
+  "version": "1.3.12",
   "compatibility": {
     "minimum": "13.341",
     "verified": "13.346"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 21fa292..8fdbd4d 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "archivist-sync",
-  "version": "1.3.11",
+  "version": "1.3.12",
   "description": "A simple Foundry VTT module for fetching world data from an API endpoint using an API key.",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
@@ -29,4 +29,4 @@
     "eslint-plugin-prettier": "^5.1.3",
     "prettier": "^3.2.5"
   }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/scripts/dialogs/ask-chat-window.js b/scripts/dialogs/ask-chat-window.js
index 46c54fe..22f2466 100644
--- a/scripts/dialogs/ask-chat-window.js
+++ b/scripts/dialogs/ask-chat-window.js
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ export class AskChatWindow {
 
     const apiKey = settingsManager.getApiKey();
     const worldId = settingsManager.getSelectedWorldId();
+    const gmPermissions =
+      !!game.user?.isGM && !!settingsManager.getChatGmPermissionsEnabled?.();
     this._isStreaming = true;
     this.render(false);
     const controller = new AbortController();
@@ -301,6 +303,7 @@ export class AskChatWindow {
         apiKey,
         worldId,
         recent,
+        gmPermissions,
         (chunk) => {
           if (assistantMsg.typing) assistantMsg.typing = false;
           assistantMsg.content += chunk;
diff --git a/scripts/modules/config.js b/scripts/modules/config.js
index fb2368d..d2ec55e 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/config.js
+++ b/scripts/modules/config.js
@@ -118,6 +118,16 @@ export const SETTINGS = {
     default: 'all', // 'all' | 'gm' | 'none'
   },
 
+  CHAT_GM_PERMISSIONS: {
+    key: 'chatGmPermissions',
+    name: 'ARCHIVIST_SYNC.Settings.ChatGmPermissions.Name',
+    hint: 'ARCHIVIST_SYNC.Settings.ChatGmPermissions.Hint',
+    scope: 'world',
+    config: true,
+    type: Boolean,
+    default: true,
+  },
+
   PROJECT_DESCRIPTIONS: {
     key: 'projectDescriptions',
     name: 'ARCHIVIST_SYNC.Settings.ProjectDescriptions.Name',
diff --git a/scripts/modules/settings-manager.js b/scripts/modules/settings-manager.js
index d4f25a7..52ab32c 100644
--- a/scripts/modules/settings-manager.js
+++ b/scripts/modules/settings-manager.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export class SettingsManager {
     this._registerRealtimeSync();
     this._registerChatHistory();
     this._registerChatVisibility();
+    this._registerChatGmPermissions();
     this._registerUpdateApiKeyMenu();
     this._registerRunSetupAgainMenu();
     this._registerDocumentationMenu();
@@ -534,6 +535,18 @@ export class SettingsManager {
     return hasValidWorldSelection && isInitialized;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if GM-only private journal context is enabled for chat
+   * @returns {boolean}
+   */
+  getChatGmPermissionsEnabled() {
+    try {
+      return !!this.getSetting(SETTINGS.CHAT_GM_PERMISSIONS.key);
+    } catch (_) {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Check if world is initialized with Archivist
    * @returns {boolean} True if world has been initialized
@@ -683,6 +696,18 @@ export class SettingsManager {
     });
   }
 
+  _registerChatGmPermissions() {
+    const setting = SETTINGS.CHAT_GM_PERMISSIONS;
+    game.settings.register(this.moduleId, setting.key, {
+      name: game.i18n.localize(setting.name),
+      hint: game.i18n.localize(setting.hint),
+      scope: setting.scope,
+      config: setting.config,
+      type: setting.type,
+      default: setting.default,
+    });
+  }
+
   /**
    * Handle changes that affect chat availability
    * @private
diff --git a/scripts/services/archivist-api.js b/scripts/services/archivist-api.js
index dd0b78b..38bb05a 100644
--- a/scripts/services/archivist-api.js
+++ b/scripts/services/archivist-api.js
@@ -1217,9 +1217,10 @@ export class ArchivistApiService {
    * @param {string} apiKey
    * @param {string} campaignId
    * @param {Array<{role:'user'|'assistant',content:string}>} messages
+   * @param {boolean} gmPermissions
    * @returns {Promise<{success:boolean, answer?:string, monthlyTokensRemaining?:number, hourlyTokensRemaining?:number, message?:string}>}
    */
-  async ask(apiKey, campaignId, messages) {
+  async ask(apiKey, campaignId, messages, gmPermissions = false) {
     try {
       const url = `${this._rootBase()}/v1/ask`;
       const headers = {
@@ -1228,7 +1229,11 @@ export class ArchivistApiService {
       const r = await fetch(url, {
         method: 'POST',
         headers,
-        body: JSON.stringify({ campaign_id: campaignId, messages }),
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          campaign_id: campaignId,
+          messages,
+          gm_permissions: !!gmPermissions,
+        }),
       });
       const data = await this._handleResponse(r);
       return {
@@ -1248,11 +1253,26 @@ export class ArchivistApiService {
    * @param {string} apiKey
    * @param {string} campaignId
    * @param {Array<{role:'user'|'assistant',content:string}>} messages
+   * @param {boolean} gmPermissions
    * @param {(chunk:string)=>void} onChunk
    * @param {(final:{text:string, monthlyTokensRemaining?:number, hourlyTokensRemaining?:number})=>void} onDone
    * @param {AbortSignal} [signal]
    */
-  async askStream(apiKey, campaignId, messages, onChunk, onDone, signal) {
+  async askStream(
+    apiKey,
+    campaignId,
+    messages,
+    gmPermissions,
+    onChunk,
+    onDone,
+    signal
+  ) {
+    if (typeof gmPermissions === 'function') {
+      signal = onDone;
+      onDone = onChunk;
+      onChunk = gmPermissions;
+      gmPermissions = false;
+    }
     const url = `${this._rootBase()}/v1/ask`;
     const headers = {
       ...this._createHeaders(apiKey, { method: 'POST', body: '1' }),
@@ -1263,6 +1283,7 @@ export class ArchivistApiService {
       campaign_id: campaignId,
       messages,
       stream: true,
+      gm_permissions: !!gmPermissions,
     });
     const resp = await fetch(url, { method: 'POST', headers, body, signal });
     if (!resp.ok) {