diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
index 0d388134eb6..7b9ddef41cc 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_channel.py
@@ -1065,7 +1065,7 @@ class Channel(models.Model):
         self.add_members(self.env.user.partner_id.ids)
 
     @api.model
-    def channel_create(self, name, privacy='public'):
+    def channel_create(self, name, privacy='groups'):
         """ Create a channel and add the current partner, broadcast it (to make the user directly
             listen to it when polling)
             :param name : the name of the channel to create
diff --git a/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
index 5944f1ca642..bc82af44bea 100644
--- a/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
+++ b/addons/mail/static/src/models/discuss/discuss.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ registerModel({
                 const channel = await this.async(() =>
                     this.messaging.models['Thread'].performRpcCreateChannel({
                         name,
-                        privacy: ui.item.special,
+                        privacy: ui.item.special === 'private' ? 'private' : 'groups',
                     })
                 );
                 channel.open();