diff --git a/app/components/users/public_activity_component.rb b/app/components/users/public_activity_component.rb
index 4c11f6069..8cdaa895c 100644
--- a/app/components/users/public_activity_component.rb
+++ b/app/components/users/public_activity_component.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 class Users::PublicActivityComponent < ApplicationComponent
   attr_reader :user
-  delegate :authorized_current_user?, :current_path_with_query_params, to: :helpers
+  delegate :current_user, :valid_interests_access?, :current_path_with_query_params, to: :helpers
 
   def initialize(user)
     @user = user
@@ -24,12 +24,16 @@ class Users::PublicActivityComponent < ApplicationComponent
       ("debates" if feature?(:debates)),
       ("budget_investments" if feature?(:budgets)),
       "comments",
-      "follows"
+      ("follows" if valid_interests_access?(user))
     ].compact.select { |filter| send(filter).any? }
   end
 
   private
 
+    def authorized_current_user?
+      current_user == user || current_user&.moderator? || current_user&.administrator?
+    end
+
     def proposals
       Proposal.where(author_id: user.id)
     end
diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
index 0912f3295..8ccee9692 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -1,18 +1,14 @@
 class UsersController < ApplicationController
   load_and_authorize_resource
   helper_method :valid_interests_access?
-  helper_method :authorized_current_user?
 
   def show
+    raise CanCan::AccessDenied if params[:filter] == "follows" && !valid_interests_access?(@user)
   end
 
   private
 
-    def valid_interests_access?
-      @user.public_interests || authorized_current_user?
-    end
-
-    def authorized_current_user?
-      @authorized_current_user ||= current_user && (current_user == @user || current_user.moderator? || current_user.administrator?)
+    def valid_interests_access?(user)
+      user.public_interests || user == current_user
     end
 end
diff --git a/app/views/users/_following.html.erb b/app/views/users/_following.html.erb
index 480bb2da2..d09f99fe6 100644
--- a/app/views/users/_following.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/users/_following.html.erb
@@ -22,6 +22,6 @@
   </div>
 
   <div class="small-12 medium-4 column interests" data-equalizer-watch>
-    <%= render "interests", user: user if valid_interests_access? %>
+    <%= render "interests", user: user %>
   </div>
 </div>
diff --git a/config/locales/en/activerecord.yml b/config/locales/en/activerecord.yml
index c2057e07b..2613671b5 100644
--- a/config/locales/en/activerecord.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en/activerecord.yml
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ en:
         official_level: "Official level"
         phone_number: "Phone number"
         public_activity: "Keep my list of activities public"
-        public_interests: "Keep the labels of the elements I follow public"
+        public_interests: "Keep the elements I follow public"
         recommended_debates: "Show debates recommendations"
         recommended_proposals: "Show proposals recommendations"
         redeemable_code: "Verification code received via email"
diff --git a/config/locales/es/activerecord.yml b/config/locales/es/activerecord.yml
index a6454e6e3..8af18867c 100644
--- a/config/locales/es/activerecord.yml
+++ b/config/locales/es/activerecord.yml
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ es:
         official_level: "Nivel del cargo"
         phone_number: "Teléfono"
         public_activity: "Mostrar públicamente mi lista de actividades"
-        public_interests: "Mostrar públicamente las etiquetas de los elementos que sigo"
+        public_interests: "Mostrar públicamente los elementos que sigo"
         recommended_debates: "Mostrar recomendaciones en el listado de debates"
         recommended_proposals: "Mostrar recomendaciones en el listado de propuestas"
         redeemable_code: "Código de verificación por carta (opcional)"
diff --git a/spec/components/users/public_activity_component_spec.rb b/spec/components/users/public_activity_component_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39ae4010d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/components/users/public_activity_component_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+require "rails_helper"
+
+describe Users::PublicActivityComponent, controller: UsersController do
+  around do |example|
+    with_request_url(Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.user_path(user)) { example.run }
+  end
+
+  describe "follows tab" do
+    context "public interests is checked" do
+      let(:user) { create(:user, public_interests: true) }
+      let(:component) { Users::PublicActivityComponent.new(user) }
+
+      it "is displayed for everyone" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Following"
+      end
+
+      it "is not displayed when the user isn't following any followables" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user)
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).not_to have_content "Following"
+      end
+
+      it "is the active tab when the follows filters is selected" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+        controller.params["filter"] = "follows"
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_selector "li.is-active", text: "1 Following"
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "public interests is not checked" do
+      let(:user) { create(:user, public_interests: false) }
+      let(:component) { Users::PublicActivityComponent.new(user) }
+
+      it "is displayed for its owner" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+        sign_in(user)
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Following"
+      end
+
+      it "is not displayed for anonymous users" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Proposal"
+        expect(page).not_to have_content "Following"
+      end
+
+      it "is not displayed for other users" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+        sign_in(create(:user))
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Proposal"
+        expect(page).not_to have_content "Following"
+      end
+
+      it "is not displayed for administrators" do
+        create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+        sign_in(create(:administrator).user)
+
+        render_inline component
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Proposal"
+        expect(page).not_to have_content "Following"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/models/user_spec.rb b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
index 3c6103c44..d24392549 100644
--- a/spec/models/user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/user_spec.rb
@@ -739,6 +739,12 @@ describe User do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#public_interests" do
+    it "is false by default" do
+      expect(User.new.public_interests).to be false
+    end
+  end
+
   describe ".find_by_manager_login" do
     it "works with a low ID" do
       user = create(:user)
diff --git a/spec/system/users_spec.rb b/spec/system/users_spec.rb
index 5a9607f9c..127bb1b11 100644
--- a/spec/system/users_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/users_spec.rb
@@ -231,106 +231,6 @@ describe "Users" do
     end
   end
 
-  describe "Public interests" do
-    let(:user) { create(:user) }
-
-    scenario "Display interests" do
-      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-
-      login_as(user)
-      visit account_path
-
-      check "account_public_interests"
-      click_button "Save changes"
-
-      logout
-
-      visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-      expect(page).to have_css "#public_interests"
-      expect(page).to have_content "Sport"
-    end
-
-    scenario "Not display interests when proposal has been destroyed" do
-      proposal = create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-      proposal.destroy!
-
-      login_as(user)
-      visit account_path
-
-      check "account_public_interests"
-      click_button "Save changes"
-
-      logout
-
-      visit user_path(user)
-      expect(page).not_to have_content("Sport")
-    end
-
-    scenario "No visible by default" do
-      visit user_path(user)
-
-      expect(page).to have_content(user.username)
-      expect(page).not_to have_css("#public_interests")
-    end
-
-    scenario "Is always visible for the owner" do
-      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-
-      login_as(user)
-      visit account_path
-
-      uncheck "account_public_interests"
-      click_button "Save changes"
-
-      visit user_path(user, filter: "follows", page: "1")
-
-      expect(page).to have_css "#public_interests"
-      expect(page).to have_content "Tags of elements you follow"
-    end
-
-    scenario "Is always visible for admins" do
-      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-
-      login_as(user)
-      visit account_path
-
-      uncheck "account_public_interests"
-      click_button "Save changes"
-
-      logout
-
-      login_as(create(:administrator).user)
-      visit user_path(user, filter: "follows", page: "1")
-      expect(page).to have_css("#public_interests")
-    end
-
-    scenario "Is always visible for moderators" do
-      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-
-      login_as(user)
-      visit account_path
-
-      uncheck "account_public_interests"
-      click_button "Save changes"
-
-      logout
-
-      login_as(create(:moderator).user)
-      visit user_path(user, filter: "follows", page: "1")
-      expect(page).to have_css("#public_interests")
-    end
-
-    scenario "Should display generic interests title" do
-      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
-
-      user.update!(public_interests: true)
-      visit user_path(user, filter: "follows", page: "1")
-
-      expect(page).to have_content("Tags of elements this user follows")
-    end
-  end
-
   describe "Special comments" do
     scenario "comments posted as moderator are not visible in user activity" do
       moderator = create(:administrator).user
@@ -386,117 +286,203 @@ describe "Users" do
   describe "Following (public page)" do
     let(:user) { create(:user) }
 
-    scenario "Do not display follows' tab when user is not following any followables" do
-      visit user_path(user)
+    context "public interests is checked" do
+      let(:user) { create(:user, public_interests: true) }
 
-      expect(page).not_to have_content("0 Following")
+      scenario "can be accessed by anyone" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user], title: "Others follow me")
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Following"
+        expect(page).to have_content "Others follow me"
+      end
+
+      scenario "Gracefully handle followables that have been hidden" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user], &:hide)
+
+        visit user_path(user)
+
+        expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
+      end
+
+      scenario "displays generic interests title" do
+        create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows", page: "1")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content("Tags of elements this user follows")
+      end
+
+      describe "Proposals" do
+        scenario "Display following tab when user is following one proposal at least" do
+          create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+
+          visit user_path(user)
+
+          expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Display proposal tab when user is following one proposal at least" do
+          create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).to have_link("Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Do not display proposals' tab when user is not following any proposal" do
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).not_to have_link("Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Display proposals with link to proposal" do
+          proposal = create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+
+          login_as user
+
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).to have_link "Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals"
+          expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
+        end
+
+        scenario "Retired proposals do not have a link to the dashboard" do
+          proposal = create(:proposal, :retired, author: user)
+          login_as user
+
+          visit user_path(user)
+
+          expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
+          expect(page).not_to have_link "Dashboard"
+          expect(page).to have_content("Dashboard not available for retired proposals")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Published proposals have a link to the dashboard" do
+          proposal = create(:proposal, :published, author: user)
+          login_as user
+
+          visit user_path(user)
+
+          expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
+          expect(page).to have_link "Dashboard"
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "Budget Investments" do
+        scenario "Display following tab when user is following one budget investment at least" do
+          create(:budget_investment, followers: [user])
+
+          visit user_path(user)
+
+          expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Display budget investment tab when user is following one budget investment at least" do
+          create(:budget_investment, followers: [user])
+
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).to have_link("Investments", href: "#investments")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Do not display budget investment tab when user is not following any budget investment" do
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).not_to have_link("Investments", href: "#investments")
+        end
+
+        scenario "Display budget investment with link to budget investment" do
+          budget_investment = create(:budget_investment, author: user, followers: [user])
+
+          visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+          expect(page).to have_link "Investments", href: "#investments"
+          expect(page).to have_link budget_investment.title
+        end
+      end
     end
 
-    scenario "Active following tab by default when follows filters selected" do
-      create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
+    context "public interests is not checked" do
+      let(:user) { create(:user, public_interests: false) }
+
+      scenario "can be accessed by its owner" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user], title: "Follow me!")
+
+        login_as(user)
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "1 Following"
+        expect(page).to have_content "Follow me!"
+        expect(page).to have_content "Tags of elements you follow"
+      end
+
+      scenario "cannot be accessed by anonymous users" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "You do not have permission to access this page"
+        expect(page).to have_current_path root_path
+      end
+
+      scenario "cannot be accessed by other users" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+
+        login_as(create(:user))
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "You do not have permission to access this page"
+        expect(page).to have_current_path root_path
+      end
+
+      scenario "cannot be accessed by administrators" do
+        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
+
+        login_as(create(:administrator).user)
+
+        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
+
+        expect(page).to have_content "You do not have permission to access this page"
+        expect(page).to have_current_path root_path
+      end
+    end
+
+    scenario "Display interests" do
+      create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
+
+      login_as(user)
+      visit account_path
+
+      check "account_public_interests"
+      click_button "Save changes"
+
+      logout
 
       visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
 
-      expect(page).to have_selector(".activity li.is-active", text: "1 Following")
+      expect(page).to have_css "#public_interests"
+      expect(page).to have_content "Sport"
     end
 
-    scenario "Gracefully handle followables that have been hidden" do
-      create(:proposal, followers: [user])
-      create(:proposal, followers: [user], &:hide)
+    scenario "Do not display interests when proposal has been destroyed" do
+      proposal = create(:proposal, tag_list: "Sport", followers: [user])
+      proposal.destroy!
+
+      login_as(user)
+      visit account_path
+
+      check "account_public_interests"
+      click_button "Save changes"
+
+      logout
 
       visit user_path(user)
-
-      expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
-    end
-
-    describe "Proposals" do
-      scenario "Display following tab when user is following one proposal at least" do
-        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
-
-        visit user_path(user)
-
-        expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Display proposal tab when user is following one proposal at least" do
-        create(:proposal, followers: [user])
-
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).to have_link("Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Do not display proposals' tab when user is not following any proposal" do
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).not_to have_link("Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Display proposals with link to proposal" do
-        proposal = create(:proposal, author: user, followers: [user])
-
-        login_as user
-
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).to have_link "Citizen proposals", href: "#citizen_proposals"
-        expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
-      end
-
-      scenario "Retired proposals do not have a link to the dashboard" do
-        proposal = create(:proposal, :retired, author: user)
-        login_as user
-
-        visit user_path(user)
-
-        expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
-        expect(page).not_to have_link "Dashboard"
-        expect(page).to have_content("Dashboard not available for retired proposals")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Published proposals have a link to the dashboard" do
-        proposal = create(:proposal, :published, author: user)
-        login_as user
-
-        visit user_path(user)
-
-        expect(page).to have_content proposal.title
-        expect(page).to have_link "Dashboard"
-      end
-    end
-
-    describe "Budget Investments" do
-      scenario "Display following tab when user is following one budget investment at least" do
-        create(:budget_investment, followers: [user])
-
-        visit user_path(user)
-
-        expect(page).to have_content("1 Following")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Display budget investment tab when user is following one budget investment at least" do
-        create(:budget_investment, followers: [user])
-
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).to have_link("Investments", href: "#investments")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Not display budget investment tab when user is not following any budget investment" do
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).not_to have_link("Investments", href: "#investments")
-      end
-
-      scenario "Display budget investment with link to budget investment" do
-        user = create(:user, :level_two)
-        budget_investment = create(:budget_investment, author: user, followers: [user])
-
-        visit user_path(user, filter: "follows")
-
-        expect(page).to have_link "Investments", href: "#investments"
-        expect(page).to have_link budget_investment.title
-      end
+      expect(page).not_to have_content("Sport")
     end
   end