diff --git a/internal/hooks/builtin/builtins.yaml b/internal/hooks/builtin/builtins.yaml
index 7128a6d9..de50c2de 100644
--- a/internal/hooks/builtin/builtins.yaml
+++ b/internal/hooks/builtin/builtins.yaml
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@
 # the _placeholder.js once at least one real source_file exists.
 builtins:
   - id: pii-redactor
-    version: 1
+    # v2: default_disabled introduced — one-shot auto-flips existing enabled
+    # rows to disabled (input-mutation opt-in policy). Bump again for any
+    # future content change.
+    version: 2
     events: [user_prompt_submit, pre_tool_use]
     scope: global
     matcher: ""
@@ -46,3 +49,8 @@ builtins:
       - toolInput.content
     source_file: pii-redactor.js
     description: "Masks email addresses and E.164-ish phone numbers in user input and common tool-input fields."
+    # Off by default — input mutation should be an explicit opt-in. Operators
+    # turn on via the UI toggle once they verify the regex behavior matches
+    # their tenant's content. Existing rows in the DB keep their user-set
+    # toggle; this only affects fresh installs / new event-row inserts.
+    default_disabled: true
diff --git a/internal/hooks/builtin/loader.go b/internal/hooks/builtin/loader.go
index f7ee6382..31dbe19d 100644
--- a/internal/hooks/builtin/loader.go
+++ b/internal/hooks/builtin/loader.go
@@ -45,19 +45,26 @@ func BuiltinEventID(name, event string) uuid.UUID {
 
 // Spec mirrors one entry in builtins.yaml. All fields optional except id,
 // events, source_file; loader validates at parse time.
+//
+// DefaultDisabled flips the initial enabled value for fresh installs (true →
+// row created with enabled=false). Reverse-named so the zero value preserves
+// the old "default on" behaviour for any builtin that omits the field. Only
+// affects INSERT — existing DB rows retain their user-set enabled toggle
+// across version bumps.
 type Spec struct {
-	ID            string   `yaml:"id"`
-	Version       int      `yaml:"version"`
-	Events        []string `yaml:"events"`
-	Scope         string   `yaml:"scope"`
-	Matcher       string   `yaml:"matcher"`
-	IfExpr        string   `yaml:"if_expr"`
-	TimeoutMS     int      `yaml:"timeout_ms"`
-	OnTimeout     string   `yaml:"on_timeout"`
-	Priority      int      `yaml:"priority"`
-	MutableFields []string `yaml:"mutable_fields"`
-	SourceFile    string   `yaml:"source_file"`
-	Description   string   `yaml:"description"`
+	ID              string   `yaml:"id"`
+	Version         int      `yaml:"version"`
+	Events          []string `yaml:"events"`
+	Scope           string   `yaml:"scope"`
+	Matcher         string   `yaml:"matcher"`
+	IfExpr          string   `yaml:"if_expr"`
+	TimeoutMS       int      `yaml:"timeout_ms"`
+	OnTimeout       string   `yaml:"on_timeout"`
+	Priority        int      `yaml:"priority"`
+	MutableFields   []string `yaml:"mutable_fields"`
+	SourceFile      string   `yaml:"source_file"`
+	Description     string   `yaml:"description"`
+	DefaultDisabled bool     `yaml:"default_disabled"`
 }
 
 type catalog struct {
diff --git a/internal/hooks/builtin/seed.go b/internal/hooks/builtin/seed.go
index 1d72533b..94887896 100644
--- a/internal/hooks/builtin/seed.go
+++ b/internal/hooks/builtin/seed.go
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ func reconcile(
 	}
 
 	if current == nil {
+		// Fresh insert: honor both the operator force-disable list AND the
+		// spec's default_disabled flag. Spec-default off keeps high-impact
+		// builtins (e.g. PII redactor) opt-in so users opt them in
+		// deliberately rather than having mutation enabled silently.
+		enabled := !forceDisabled && !s.DefaultDisabled
 		cfg := hooks.HookConfig{
 			ID:          id,
 			TenantID:    hooks.SentinelTenantID,
@@ -98,7 +103,7 @@ func reconcile(
 			TimeoutMS:   s.TimeoutMS,
 			OnTimeout:   hooks.Decision(s.OnTimeout),
 			Priority:    s.Priority,
-			Enabled:     !forceDisabled,
+			Enabled:     enabled,
 			Source:      hooks.SourceBuiltin,
 			Metadata:    metadata,
 		}
@@ -121,6 +126,17 @@ func reconcile(
 			"priority":   s.Priority,
 			"metadata":   metadata,
 		}
+		// One-shot: when a version bump introduces default_disabled=true on
+		// a row that was previously enabled, flip it off too. Lets us roll
+		// out the "input mutation is opt-in" policy retroactively without
+		// stomping on a user who deliberately re-enables afterwards (the
+		// next boot finds dbVersion >= s.Version, skips this branch).
+		if s.DefaultDisabled && current.Enabled {
+			patch["enabled"] = false
+			slog.Info("hooks.builtin_default_off_applied",
+				"id", s.ID, "event", event,
+				"reason", "version bump introduced default_disabled=true")
+		}
 		if err := hs.Update(ctx, id, patch); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("update: %w", err)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/hooks/builtin/seed_test.go b/internal/hooks/builtin/seed_test.go
index 5b39c76a..3b52b0d4 100644
--- a/internal/hooks/builtin/seed_test.go
+++ b/internal/hooks/builtin/seed_test.go
@@ -239,6 +239,75 @@ func TestSeed_DowngradeDetected(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestSeed_DefaultDisabledOnFreshInsert verifies a spec carrying
+// default_disabled=true creates rows with enabled=false on first insert.
+func TestSeed_DefaultDisabledOnFreshInsert(t *testing.T) {
+	spec := fixtureSpec(1)
+	spec.DefaultDisabled = true
+	withTestRegistry(t, spec, []byte("// v1"))
+
+	fs := newFakeHookStore()
+	if err := Seed(context.Background(), fs, config.HooksConfig{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Seed: %v", err)
+	}
+	for id, row := range fs.rows {
+		if row.Enabled {
+			t.Errorf("row %s enabled despite default_disabled spec", id)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSeed_DefaultDisabledFlipsOnVersionBump ensures the one-shot retroactive
+// disable kicks in when a version bump introduces the policy on rows that
+// were previously enabled. Subsequent boots (no version bump) leave the
+// user's manual re-enable alone.
+func TestSeed_DefaultDisabledFlipsOnVersionBump(t *testing.T) {
+	// Boot 1: spec v1, default_disabled NOT set → row created enabled.
+	withTestRegistry(t, fixtureSpec(1), []byte("// v1"))
+	fs := newFakeHookStore()
+	if err := Seed(context.Background(), fs, config.HooksConfig{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for _, row := range fs.rows {
+		if !row.Enabled {
+			t.Fatal("baseline: row should be enabled before policy change")
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Boot 2: spec v2 with default_disabled=true → flips existing enabled rows.
+	v2 := fixtureSpec(2)
+	v2.DefaultDisabled = true
+	withTestRegistry(t, v2, []byte("// v2"))
+	if err := Seed(context.Background(), fs, config.HooksConfig{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	for id, row := range fs.rows {
+		if row.Enabled {
+			t.Errorf("row %s still enabled after policy version bump", id)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// User re-enables one row through the UI.
+	for id := range fs.rows {
+		fs.rows[id].Enabled = true
+		break
+	}
+
+	// Boot 3: same spec v2 (no version bump) → user's choice is preserved.
+	if err := Seed(context.Background(), fs, config.HooksConfig{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	enabledAfter := 0
+	for _, row := range fs.rows {
+		if row.Enabled {
+			enabledAfter++
+		}
+	}
+	if enabledAfter != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("user re-enable lost: enabled=%d, want 1", enabledAfter)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestSeed_BuiltinDisableForcesOff applies the operator escape-hatch list.
 func TestSeed_BuiltinDisableForcesOff(t *testing.T) {
 	withTestRegistry(t, fixtureSpec(1), []byte("// v1"))