diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 8de505811b..2e2b110f15 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -13,3 +13,11 @@ org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx1536m
 # This option should only be used with decoupled projects. More details, visit
 # http://www.gradle.org/docs/current/userguide/multi_project_builds.html#sec:decoupled_projects
 # org.gradle.parallel=true
+
+
+vector.debugPrivateData=false
+vector.httpLogLevel=NONE
+
+# Note: to debug, you can put and uncomment the following lines in the file ~/.gradle/gradle.properties to override the value above
+#vector.debugPrivateData=true
+#vector.httpLogLevel=BODY
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle b/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
index 3fda5a6372..59f24ea272 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/build.gradle
@@ -45,10 +45,9 @@ android {
 
         debug {
             // Set to true to log privacy or sensible data, such as token
-            buildConfigField "boolean", "LOG_PRIVATE_DATA", "false"
-
+            buildConfigField "boolean", "LOG_PRIVATE_DATA", project.property("vector.debugPrivateData")
             // Set to BODY instead of NONE to enable logging
-            buildConfigField "okhttp3.logging.HttpLoggingInterceptor.Level", "OKHTTP_LOGGING_LEVEL", "okhttp3.logging.HttpLoggingInterceptor.Level.NONE"
+            buildConfigField "okhttp3.logging.HttpLoggingInterceptor.Level", "OKHTTP_LOGGING_LEVEL", "okhttp3.logging.HttpLoggingInterceptor.Level." + project.property("vector.httpLogLevel")
         }
 
         release {