diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/DisplayCreationArgs.h b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/DisplayCreationArgs.h
index 98c4af4..6e60839 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/DisplayCreationArgs.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/DisplayCreationArgs.h
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
     // True if this display should be considered secure
     bool isSecure = false;
 
+    // True if this display should be considered protected, as in this display should render DRM
+    // content.
+    bool isProtected = false;
+
     // Optional pointer to the power advisor interface, if one is needed for
     // this display.
     Hwc2::PowerAdvisor* powerAdvisor = nullptr;
@@ -73,6 +77,11 @@
         return *this;
     }
 
+    DisplayCreationArgsBuilder& setIsProtected(bool isProtected) {
+        mArgs.isProtected = isProtected;
+        return *this;
+    }
+
     DisplayCreationArgsBuilder& setPowerAdvisor(Hwc2::PowerAdvisor* powerAdvisor) {
         mArgs.powerAdvisor = powerAdvisor;
         return *this;
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/LayerFE.h b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/LayerFE.h
index ccff1ec..a1d6132 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/LayerFE.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/LayerFE.h
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
         const bool isSecure;
 
         // If set to true, the target buffer has protected content support.
-        const bool supportsProtectedContent;
+        const bool isProtected;
 
         // Viewport of the target being rendered to. This is used to determine
         // the shadow light position.
@@ -167,8 +167,7 @@
 static inline bool operator==(const LayerFE::ClientCompositionTargetSettings& lhs,
                               const LayerFE::ClientCompositionTargetSettings& rhs) {
     return lhs.clip.hasSameRects(rhs.clip) && lhs.needsFiltering == rhs.needsFiltering &&
-            lhs.isSecure == rhs.isSecure &&
-            lhs.supportsProtectedContent == rhs.supportsProtectedContent &&
+            lhs.isSecure == rhs.isSecure && lhs.isProtected == rhs.isProtected &&
             lhs.viewport == rhs.viewport && lhs.dataspace == rhs.dataspace &&
             lhs.realContentIsVisible == rhs.realContentIsVisible &&
             lhs.clearContent == rhs.clearContent;
@@ -189,7 +188,7 @@
     PrintTo(settings.clip, os);
     *os << "\n    .needsFiltering = " << settings.needsFiltering;
     *os << "\n    .isSecure = " << settings.isSecure;
-    *os << "\n    .supportsProtectedContent = " << settings.supportsProtectedContent;
+    *os << "\n    .isProtected = " << settings.isProtected;
     *os << "\n    .viewport = ";
     PrintTo(settings.viewport, os);
     *os << "\n    .dataspace = ";
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/impl/OutputCompositionState.h b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/impl/OutputCompositionState.h
index 692ed24..6b1c318 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/impl/OutputCompositionState.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/include/compositionengine/impl/OutputCompositionState.h
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@
     // If false, this output is not considered secure
     bool isSecure{false};
 
+    // If false, this output is not considered protected
+    bool isProtected{false};
+
     // If true, the current frame on this output uses client composition
     bool usesClientComposition{false};
 
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Display.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Display.cpp
index 0475881..690d35f 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Display.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Display.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
     mId = args.id;
     mPowerAdvisor = args.powerAdvisor;
     editState().isSecure = args.isSecure;
+    editState().isProtected = args.isProtected;
     editState().displaySpace.setBounds(args.pixels);
     setName(args.name);
 }
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Output.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Output.cpp
index e4d7578..c399224 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Output.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/Output.cpp
@@ -1232,10 +1232,18 @@
     auto& renderEngine = getCompositionEngine().getRenderEngine();
     const bool supportsProtectedContent = renderEngine.supportsProtectedContent();
 
-    // If we the display is secure, protected content support is enabled, and at
-    // least one layer has protected content, we need to use a secure back
-    // buffer.
-    if (outputState.isSecure && supportsProtectedContent) {
+    bool isProtected;
+    if (FlagManager::getInstance().display_protected()) {
+        isProtected = outputState.isProtected;
+    } else {
+        isProtected = outputState.isSecure;
+    }
+
+    // We need to set the render surface as protected (DRM) if all the following conditions are met:
+    // 1. The display is protected (in legacy, check if the display is secure)
+    // 2. Protected content is supported
+    // 3. At least one layer has protected content.
+    if (isProtected && supportsProtectedContent) {
         auto layers = getOutputLayersOrderedByZ();
         bool needsProtected = std::any_of(layers.begin(), layers.end(), [](auto* layer) {
             return layer->getLayerFE().getCompositionState()->hasProtectedContent;
@@ -1475,12 +1483,16 @@
                                              BlurRegionsOnly
                                    : LayerFE::ClientCompositionTargetSettings::BlurSetting::
                                              Enabled);
+                bool isProtected = supportsProtectedContent;
+                if (FlagManager::getInstance().display_protected()) {
+                    isProtected = outputState.isProtected && supportsProtectedContent;
+                }
                 compositionengine::LayerFE::ClientCompositionTargetSettings
                         targetSettings{.clip = clip,
                                        .needsFiltering = layer->needsFiltering() ||
                                                outputState.needsFiltering,
                                        .isSecure = outputState.isSecure,
-                                       .supportsProtectedContent = supportsProtectedContent,
+                                       .isProtected = isProtected,
                                        .viewport = outputState.layerStackSpace.getContent(),
                                        .dataspace = outputDataspace,
                                        .realContentIsVisible = realContentIsVisible,
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/planner/CachedSet.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/planner/CachedSet.cpp
index 579c6ba..869dda6 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/planner/CachedSet.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/CompositionEngine/src/planner/CachedSet.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
             targetSettings{.clip = Region(viewport),
                            .needsFiltering = false,
                            .isSecure = outputState.isSecure,
-                           .supportsProtectedContent = false,
+                           .isProtected = false,
                            .viewport = viewport,
                            .dataspace = outputDataspace,
                            .realContentIsVisible = true,
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.cpp
index 249c40b..950b05e 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
         mRefreshRateSelector(std::move(args.refreshRateSelector)),
         mHasDesiredModeTrace(concatId("HasDesiredMode"), false) {
     mCompositionDisplay->editState().isSecure = args.isSecure;
+    mCompositionDisplay->editState().isProtected = args.isProtected;
     mCompositionDisplay->createRenderSurface(
             compositionengine::RenderSurfaceCreationArgsBuilder()
                     .setDisplayWidth(ANativeWindow_getWidth(args.nativeWindow.get()))
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.h b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.h
index 51c7be0..ac390cb 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/DisplayDevice.h
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@
     uint32_t height = 0;
     std::string displayName;
     bool isSecure = false;
+    bool isProtected = false;
     // Refer to DisplayDevice::mRequestedRefreshRate, for virtual display only
     Fps requestedRefreshRate;
 
@@ -353,6 +354,7 @@
 
     int32_t sequenceId{0};
     bool isSecure{false};
+    bool isProtected{false};
     sp<ANativeWindow> nativeWindow;
     sp<compositionengine::DisplaySurface> displaySurface;
     ui::Rotation physicalOrientation{ui::ROTATION_0};
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerFE.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerFE.cpp
index f25619a..2dbcb84 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/LayerFE.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/LayerFE.cpp
@@ -208,9 +208,15 @@
         // activeBuffer, then we need to return LayerSettings.
         return;
     }
-    const bool blackOutLayer =
-            (mSnapshot->hasProtectedContent && !targetSettings.supportsProtectedContent) ||
-            ((mSnapshot->isSecure || mSnapshot->hasProtectedContent) && !targetSettings.isSecure);
+    bool blackOutLayer;
+    if (FlagManager::getInstance().display_protected()) {
+        blackOutLayer = (mSnapshot->hasProtectedContent && !targetSettings.isProtected) ||
+                (mSnapshot->isSecure && !targetSettings.isSecure);
+    } else {
+        blackOutLayer = (mSnapshot->hasProtectedContent && !targetSettings.isProtected) ||
+                ((mSnapshot->isSecure || mSnapshot->hasProtectedContent) &&
+                 !targetSettings.isSecure);
+    }
     const bool bufferCanBeUsedAsHwTexture =
             mSnapshot->externalTexture->getUsage() & GraphicBuffer::USAGE_HW_TEXTURE;
     if (blackOutLayer || !bufferCanBeUsedAsHwTexture) {
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/RegionSamplingThread.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/RegionSamplingThread.cpp
index 6db39f1..c888ccc 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/RegionSamplingThread.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/RegionSamplingThread.cpp
@@ -374,10 +374,11 @@
 
     constexpr bool kRegionSampling = true;
     constexpr bool kGrayscale = false;
+    constexpr bool kIsProtected = false;
 
     if (const auto fenceResult =
                 mFlinger.captureScreenCommon(std::move(renderAreaFuture), getLayerSnapshots, buffer,
-                                             kRegionSampling, kGrayscale, nullptr)
+                                             kRegionSampling, kGrayscale, kIsProtected, nullptr)
                         .get();
         fenceResult.ok()) {
         fenceResult.value()->waitForever(LOG_TAG);
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.cpp
index 57b0d5e..a4a5ce2 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
             bool>(args.compositionEngine, args.renderArea, args.colorProfile, args.regionSampling,
                   args.dimInGammaSpaceForEnhancedScreenshots);
     output->editState().isSecure = args.renderArea.isSecure();
+    output->editState().isProtected = args.isProtected;
     output->setCompositionEnabled(true);
     output->setLayerFilter({args.layerStack});
     output->setRenderSurface(std::make_unique<ScreenCaptureRenderSurface>(std::move(args.buffer)));
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.h b/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.h
index fc095de..1c16308 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/ScreenCaptureOutput.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
     bool regionSampling;
     bool treat170mAsSrgb;
     bool dimInGammaSpaceForEnhancedScreenshots;
+    bool isProtected = false;
 };
 
 // ScreenCaptureOutput is used to compose a set of layers into a preallocated buffer.
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
index 1dcc19e..c4de02f 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.cpp
@@ -565,6 +565,9 @@
     // Display ID is assigned when virtual display is allocated by HWC.
     DisplayDeviceState state;
     state.isSecure = secure;
+    // Set display as protected when marked as secure to ensure no behavior change
+    // TODO (b/314820005): separate as a different arg when creating the display.
+    state.isProtected = secure;
     state.displayName = displayName;
     state.requestedRefreshRate = Fps::fromValue(requestedRefreshRate);
     mCurrentState.displays.add(token, state);
@@ -3381,6 +3384,7 @@
                       .hwcDisplayId = hwcDisplayId,
                       .activeMode = std::move(activeMode)};
     state.isSecure = true; // All physical displays are currently considered secure.
+    state.isProtected = true;
     state.displayName = std::move(info.name);
 
     mCurrentState.displays.add(token, state);
@@ -3412,6 +3416,7 @@
                                            displayToken, compositionDisplay);
     creationArgs.sequenceId = state.sequenceId;
     creationArgs.isSecure = state.isSecure;
+    creationArgs.isProtected = state.isProtected;
     creationArgs.displaySurface = displaySurface;
     creationArgs.hasWideColorGamut = false;
     creationArgs.supportedPerFrameMetadata = 0;
@@ -3543,6 +3548,7 @@
 
     builder.setPixels(resolution);
     builder.setIsSecure(state.isSecure);
+    builder.setIsProtected(state.isProtected);
     builder.setPowerAdvisor(mPowerAdvisor.get());
     builder.setName(state.displayName);
     auto compositionDisplay = getCompositionEngine().createDisplay(builder.build());
@@ -7856,12 +7862,11 @@
                                     })
                                     .get();
     }
-
+    const bool isProtected = hasProtectedLayer && allowProtected && supportsProtected;
     const uint32_t usage = GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_COMPOSER | GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_RENDER |
             GRALLOC_USAGE_HW_TEXTURE |
-            (hasProtectedLayer && allowProtected && supportsProtected
-                     ? GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED
-                     : GRALLOC_USAGE_SW_READ_OFTEN | GRALLOC_USAGE_SW_WRITE_OFTEN);
+            (isProtected ? GRALLOC_USAGE_PROTECTED
+                         : GRALLOC_USAGE_SW_READ_OFTEN | GRALLOC_USAGE_SW_WRITE_OFTEN);
     sp<GraphicBuffer> buffer =
             getFactory().createGraphicBuffer(bufferSize.getWidth(), bufferSize.getHeight(),
                                              static_cast<android_pixel_format>(reqPixelFormat),
@@ -7881,14 +7886,15 @@
                                                  renderengine::impl::ExternalTexture::Usage::
                                                          WRITEABLE);
     auto fence = captureScreenCommon(std::move(renderAreaFuture), getLayerSnapshots, texture,
-                                     false /* regionSampling */, grayscale, captureListener);
+                                     false /* regionSampling */, grayscale, isProtected,
+                                     captureListener);
     fence.get();
 }
 
 ftl::SharedFuture<FenceResult> SurfaceFlinger::captureScreenCommon(
         RenderAreaFuture renderAreaFuture, GetLayerSnapshotsFunction getLayerSnapshots,
         const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>& buffer, bool regionSampling,
-        bool grayscale, const sp<IScreenCaptureListener>& captureListener) {
+        bool grayscale, bool isProtected, const sp<IScreenCaptureListener>& captureListener) {
     ATRACE_CALL();
 
     auto future = mScheduler->schedule(
@@ -7907,8 +7913,9 @@
 
                 ftl::SharedFuture<FenceResult> renderFuture;
                 renderArea->render([&]() FTL_FAKE_GUARD(kMainThreadContext) {
-                    renderFuture = renderScreenImpl(renderArea, getLayerSnapshots, buffer,
-                                                    regionSampling, grayscale, captureResults);
+                    renderFuture =
+                            renderScreenImpl(renderArea, getLayerSnapshots, buffer, regionSampling,
+                                             grayscale, isProtected, captureResults);
                 });
 
                 if (captureListener) {
@@ -7936,7 +7943,7 @@
 ftl::SharedFuture<FenceResult> SurfaceFlinger::renderScreenImpl(
         std::shared_ptr<const RenderArea> renderArea, GetLayerSnapshotsFunction getLayerSnapshots,
         const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>& buffer, bool regionSampling,
-        bool grayscale, ScreenCaptureResults& captureResults) {
+        bool grayscale, bool isProtected, ScreenCaptureResults& captureResults) {
     ATRACE_CALL();
 
     auto layers = getLayerSnapshots();
@@ -8031,9 +8038,9 @@
     };
 
     auto present = [this, buffer = capturedBuffer, dataspace = captureResults.capturedDataspace,
-                    sdrWhitePointNits, displayBrightnessNits, grayscale, layerFEs = copyLayerFEs(),
-                    layerStack, regionSampling, renderArea = std::move(renderArea),
-                    renderIntent]() -> FenceResult {
+                    sdrWhitePointNits, displayBrightnessNits, grayscale, isProtected,
+                    layerFEs = copyLayerFEs(), layerStack, regionSampling,
+                    renderArea = std::move(renderArea), renderIntent]() -> FenceResult {
         std::unique_ptr<compositionengine::CompositionEngine> compositionEngine =
                 mFactory.createCompositionEngine();
         compositionEngine->setRenderEngine(mRenderEngine.get());
@@ -8067,7 +8074,8 @@
                                         .regionSampling = regionSampling,
                                         .treat170mAsSrgb = mTreat170mAsSrgb,
                                         .dimInGammaSpaceForEnhancedScreenshots =
-                                                dimInGammaSpaceForEnhancedScreenshots});
+                                                dimInGammaSpaceForEnhancedScreenshots,
+                                        .isProtected = isProtected});
 
         const float colorSaturation = grayscale ? 0 : 1;
         compositionengine::CompositionRefreshArgs refreshArgs{
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
index c4af271..6909055 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/SurfaceFlinger.h
@@ -855,11 +855,11 @@
     ftl::SharedFuture<FenceResult> captureScreenCommon(
             RenderAreaFuture, GetLayerSnapshotsFunction,
             const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>&, bool regionSampling,
-            bool grayscale, const sp<IScreenCaptureListener>&);
+            bool grayscale, bool isProtected, const sp<IScreenCaptureListener>&);
     ftl::SharedFuture<FenceResult> renderScreenImpl(
             std::shared_ptr<const RenderArea>, GetLayerSnapshotsFunction,
             const std::shared_ptr<renderengine::ExternalTexture>&, bool regionSampling,
-            bool grayscale, ScreenCaptureResults&) EXCLUDES(mStateLock)
+            bool grayscale, bool isProtected, ScreenCaptureResults&) EXCLUDES(mStateLock)
             REQUIRES(kMainThreadContext);
 
     // If the uid provided is not UNSET_UID, the traverse will skip any layers that don't have a
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/common/FlagManager.cpp b/services/surfaceflinger/common/FlagManager.cpp
index 07a606c..2d74828 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/common/FlagManager.cpp
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/common/FlagManager.cpp
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@
     DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG(use_known_refresh_rate_for_fps_consistency);
     DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG(cache_if_source_crop_layer_only_moved);
     DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG(enable_fro_dependent_features);
+    DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG(display_protected);
 
 #undef DUMP_READ_ONLY_FLAG
 #undef DUMP_SERVER_FLAG
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@
 FLAG_MANAGER_READ_ONLY_FLAG(cache_if_source_crop_layer_only_moved,
                             "debug.sf.cache_source_crop_only_moved")
 FLAG_MANAGER_READ_ONLY_FLAG(enable_fro_dependent_features, "")
+FLAG_MANAGER_READ_ONLY_FLAG(display_protected, "")
 
 /// Trunk stable server flags ///
 FLAG_MANAGER_SERVER_FLAG(late_boot_misc2, "")
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/common/include/common/FlagManager.h b/services/surfaceflinger/common/include/common/FlagManager.h
index 38cb43a..e0f6204 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/common/include/common/FlagManager.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/common/include/common/FlagManager.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@
     bool use_known_refresh_rate_for_fps_consistency() const;
     bool cache_if_source_crop_layer_only_moved() const;
     bool enable_fro_dependent_features() const;
+    bool display_protected() const;
 
 protected:
     // overridden for unit tests
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig b/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
index fcb52c7..620ac26 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/surfaceflinger_flags.aconfig
@@ -107,3 +107,11 @@
   bug: "314217419"
   is_fixed_read_only: true
 }
+
+flag {
+  name: "display_protected"
+  namespace: "core_graphics"
+  description: "Introduce protected displays to specify whether they should render protected content"
+  bug: "301647974"
+  is_fixed_read_only: true
+}
diff --git a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
index ebb05d4..8ba6bf8 100644
--- a/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
+++ b/services/surfaceflinger/tests/unittests/TestableSurfaceFlinger.h
@@ -498,7 +498,8 @@
         return FTL_FAKE_GUARD(kMainThreadContext,
                               mFlinger->renderScreenImpl(std::move(renderArea), traverseLayers,
                                                          buffer, regionSampling,
-                                                         false /* grayscale */, captureResults));
+                                                         false /* grayscale */,
+                                                         false /* isProtected */, captureResults));
     }
 
     auto traverseLayersInLayerStack(ui::LayerStack layerStack, int32_t uid,