diff --git a/spec/ProtectedFields.spec.js b/spec/ProtectedFields.spec.js
index 92b89a6bae..786222dc9e 100644
--- a/spec/ProtectedFields.spec.js
+++ b/spec/ProtectedFields.spec.js
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+const Config = require('../lib/Config');
+const Parse = require('parse/node');
+
 describe('ProtectedFields', function() {
   it('should handle and empty protectedFields', async function() {
     const protectedFields = {};
@@ -138,4 +141,621 @@ describe('ProtectedFields', function() {
       expect(fetchedUser.has('favoriteColor')).toBeTruthy();
     });
   });
+
+  describe('using the pointer-permission variant', () => {
+    let user1, user2;
+    beforeEach(async () => {
+      Config.get(Parse.applicationId).database.schemaCache.clear();
+      user1 = await Parse.User.signUp('user1', 'password');
+      user2 = await Parse.User.signUp('user2', 'password');
+      await Parse.User.logOut();
+    });
+
+    describe('and get/fetch', () => {
+      it('should allow access using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owner').id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to other users using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to public using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should allow access using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+        let objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')[0].id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')[1].id).toBe(user2.id);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to other users using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to public using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should create merge protected fields when using multiple pointer-permission fields', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: {
+              '*': [],
+              'userField:owners': ['owners'],
+              'userField:owner': ['owner'],
+            },
+          }
+        );
+
+        // Check if protectFields from pointer-permissions got combined
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should ignore pointer-permission fields not present in object', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        await obj.save();
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: {
+              '*': [],
+              'userField:idontexist': ['owner'],
+              'userField:idontexist2': ['owners'],
+            },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+        const objectAgain = await obj.fetch();
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owners')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(objectAgain.get('test')).toBe('test');
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('and find', () => {
+      it('should allow access using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owner', user1);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owner').id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owner').id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to other users using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owner', user1);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to public using single user pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owner', user1);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owner'], 'userField:owner': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should allow access using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        let results;
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+        results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')[0].id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')[0].id).toBe(user1.id);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')[1].id).toBe(user2.id);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')[1].id).toBe(user2.id);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to other users using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should deny access to public using user array pointer-permissions', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owners', [user1, user2]);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: { '*': ['owners'], 'userField:owners': [] },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should create merge protected fields when using multiple pointer-permission fields', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj2.set('owner', user1);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: {
+              '*': [],
+              'userField:owners': ['owners'],
+              'userField:owner': ['owner'],
+            },
+          }
+        );
+
+        // Check if protectFields from pointer-permissions got combined
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should ignore pointer-permission fields not present in object', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owners', [user1]);
+        obj2.set('owner', user1);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: {
+              '*': [],
+              'userField:idontexist': ['owner'],
+              'userField:idontexist2': ['owners'],
+            },
+          }
+        );
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        const results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owners')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owners')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        done();
+      });
+
+      it('should filter only fields from objects not owned by the user', async done => {
+        const config = Config.get(Parse.applicationId);
+        const obj = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj2 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+        const obj3 = new Parse.Object('AnObject');
+
+        obj.set('owner', user1);
+        obj.set('test', 'test');
+        obj2.set('owner', user2);
+        obj2.set('test', 'test2');
+        obj3.set('owner', user2);
+        obj3.set('test', 'test3');
+        await Parse.Object.saveAll([obj, obj2, obj3]);
+
+        const schema = await config.database.loadSchema();
+        await schema.updateClass(
+          'AnObject',
+          {},
+          {
+            get: { '*': true },
+            find: { '*': true },
+            protectedFields: {
+              '*': ['owner'],
+              'userField:owner': [],
+            },
+          }
+        );
+
+        const q = new Parse.Query('AnObject');
+        let results;
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user1', 'password');
+
+        results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(3);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        expect(results[2].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[2].get('test')).toBe('test3');
+
+        await Parse.User.logIn('user2', 'password');
+
+        results = await q.find();
+        // sort for checking in correct order
+        results.sort((a, b) => a.get('test').localeCompare(b.get('test')));
+        expect(results.length).toBe(3);
+
+        expect(results[0].get('owner')).toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[0].get('test')).toBe('test');
+        expect(results[1].get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[1].get('test')).toBe('test2');
+        expect(results[2].get('owner')).not.toBe(undefined);
+        expect(results[2].get('test')).toBe('test3');
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js b/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
index c426a8280e..0a643e64ee 100644
--- a/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
+++ b/src/Controllers/DatabaseController.js
@@ -192,15 +192,69 @@ const validateQuery = (
 
 // Filters out any data that shouldn't be on this REST-formatted object.
 const filterSensitiveData = (
-  isMaster,
-  aclGroup,
-  className,
-  protectedFields,
-  object
+  isMaster: boolean,
+  aclGroup: any[],
+  auth: any,
+  operation: any,
+  schema: SchemaController.SchemaController,
+  className: string,
+  protectedFields: null | Array<any>,
+  object: any
 ) => {
-  protectedFields && protectedFields.forEach(k => delete object[k]);
+  let userId = null;
+  if (auth && auth.user) userId = auth.user.id;
+
+  // replace protectedFields when using pointer-permissions
+  const perms = schema.getClassLevelPermissions(className);
+  if (perms) {
+    const isReadOperation = ['get', 'find'].indexOf(operation) > -1;
+
+    if (isReadOperation && perms.protectedFields) {
+      // extract protectedFields added with the pointer-permission prefix
+      const protectedFieldsPointerPerm = Object.keys(perms.protectedFields)
+        .filter(key => key.startsWith('userField:'))
+        .map(key => {
+          return { key: key.substring(10), value: perms.protectedFields[key] };
+        });
+
+      const newProtectedFields: Array<string> = [];
+      let overrideProtectedFields = false;
+
+      // check if the object grants the current user access based on the extracted fields
+      protectedFieldsPointerPerm.forEach(pointerPerm => {
+        let pointerPermIncludesUser = false;
+        const readUserFieldValue = object[pointerPerm.key];
+        if (readUserFieldValue) {
+          if (Array.isArray(readUserFieldValue)) {
+            pointerPermIncludesUser = readUserFieldValue.some(
+              user => user.objectId && user.objectId === userId
+            );
+          } else {
+            pointerPermIncludesUser =
+              readUserFieldValue.objectId &&
+              readUserFieldValue.objectId === userId;
+          }
+        }
+
+        if (pointerPermIncludesUser) {
+          overrideProtectedFields = true;
+          newProtectedFields.push(...pointerPerm.value);
+        }
+      });
 
-  if (className !== '_User') {
+      // if atleast one pointer-permission affected the current user override the protectedFields
+      if (overrideProtectedFields) protectedFields = newProtectedFields;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const isUserClass = className === '_User';
+
+  /* special treat for the user class: don't filter protectedFields if currently loggedin user is
+  the retrieved user */
+  if (!(isUserClass && userId && object.objectId === userId))
+    protectedFields && protectedFields.forEach(k => delete object[k]);
+
+  if (!isUserClass) {
     return object;
   }
 
@@ -1315,8 +1369,9 @@ class DatabaseController {
                     query,
                     aclGroup
                   );
-                  // ProtectedFields is generated before executing the query so we
-                  // can optimize the query using Mongo Projection at a later stage.
+                  /* Don't use projections to optimize the protectedFields since the protectedFields
+                  based on pointer-permissions are determined after querying. The filtering can
+                  overwrite the protected fields. */
                   protectedFields = this.addProtectedFields(
                     schemaController,
                     className,
@@ -1385,6 +1440,9 @@ class DatabaseController {
                         return filterSensitiveData(
                           isMaster,
                           aclGroup,
+                          auth,
+                          op,
+                          schemaController,
                           className,
                           protectedFields,
                           object
@@ -1518,18 +1576,13 @@ class DatabaseController {
     if (!protectedFields) return null;
 
     if (aclGroup.indexOf(query.objectId) > -1) return null;
-    if (
-      Object.keys(query).length === 0 &&
-      auth &&
-      auth.user &&
-      aclGroup.indexOf(auth.user.id) > -1
-    )
-      return null;
-
-    let protectedKeys = Object.values(protectedFields).reduce(
-      (acc, val) => acc.concat(val),
-      []
-    ); //.flat();
+
+    // remove userField keys since they are filtered after querying
+    let protectedKeys = Object.keys(protectedFields).reduce((acc, val) => {
+      if (val.startsWith('userField:')) return acc;
+      return acc.concat(protectedFields[val]);
+    }, []);
+
     [...(auth.userRoles || [])].forEach(role => {
       const fields = protectedFields[role];
       if (fields) {
diff --git a/src/Controllers/SchemaController.js b/src/Controllers/SchemaController.js
index da75c2f1f2..7c64b48bf2 100644
--- a/src/Controllers/SchemaController.js
+++ b/src/Controllers/SchemaController.js
@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ const volatileClasses = Object.freeze([
 const userIdRegex = /^[a-zA-Z0-9]{10}$/;
 // Anything that start with role
 const roleRegex = /^role:.*/;
+// Anything that starts with userField
+const pointerPermissionRegex = /^userField:.*/;
 // * permission
 const publicRegex = /^\*$/;
 
@@ -184,6 +186,7 @@ const requireAuthenticationRegex = /^requiresAuthentication$/;
 const permissionKeyRegex = Object.freeze([
   userIdRegex,
   roleRegex,
+  pointerPermissionRegex,
   publicRegex,
   requireAuthenticationRegex,
 ]);
@@ -905,10 +908,15 @@ export default class SchemaController {
           let defaultValueType = getType(fieldType.defaultValue);
           if (typeof defaultValueType === 'string') {
             defaultValueType = { type: defaultValueType };
-          } else if (typeof defaultValueType === 'object' && fieldType.type === 'Relation') {
+          } else if (
+            typeof defaultValueType === 'object' &&
+            fieldType.type === 'Relation'
+          ) {
             return {
               code: Parse.Error.INCORRECT_TYPE,
-              error: `The 'default value' option is not applicable for ${typeToString(fieldType)}`
+              error: `The 'default value' option is not applicable for ${typeToString(
+                fieldType
+              )}`,
             };
           }
           if (!dbTypeMatchesObjectType(fieldType, defaultValueType)) {
@@ -923,7 +931,9 @@ export default class SchemaController {
           if (typeof fieldType === 'object' && fieldType.type === 'Relation') {
             return {
               code: Parse.Error.INCORRECT_TYPE,
-              error: `The 'required' option is not applicable for ${typeToString(fieldType)}`
+              error: `The 'required' option is not applicable for ${typeToString(
+                fieldType
+              )}`,
             };
           }
         }