diff --git a/cognee/context_global_variables.py b/cognee/context_global_variables.py
index 8ad855724..b4b848192 100644
--- a/cognee/context_global_variables.py
+++ b/cognee/context_global_variables.py
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ def check_backend_access_control_mode():
         # enable it by default if graph and vector DBs can support it, otherwise disable it
         multi_user_support = check_multi_user_support()
         if multi_user_support:
-            return "true"
+            return True
         else:
-            return "false"
+            return False
     elif backend_access_control.lower() == "true":
         # If enabled, ensure that the current graph and vector DBs can support it
         multi_user_support = check_multi_user_support()
@@ -54,10 +54,10 @@ def check_backend_access_control_mode():
                 "ENABLE_BACKEND_ACCESS_CONTROL is set to true but the current graph and/or vector databases do not support multi-user access control. Please use supported databases or disable backend access control."
             )
         else:
-            return "true"
+            return True
     else:
         # If explicitly disabled, return false
-        return "false"
+        return False
 
 
 async def set_database_global_context_variables(dataset: Union[str, UUID], user_id: UUID):
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async def set_database_global_context_variables(dataset: Union[str, UUID], user_
 
     base_config = get_base_config()
 
-    if not check_backend_access_control_mode() == "true":
+    if not check_backend_access_control_mode():
         return
 
     user = await get_user(user_id)
diff --git a/cognee/modules/search/methods/search.py b/cognee/modules/search/methods/search.py
index e3d7c220e..4a67093e8 100644
--- a/cognee/modules/search/methods/search.py
+++ b/cognee/modules/search/methods/search.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ async def search(
     )
 
     # Use search function filtered by permissions if access control is enabled
-    if check_backend_access_control_mode() == "true":
+    if check_backend_access_control_mode():
         search_results = await authorized_search(
             query_type=query_type,
             query_text=query_text,
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ async def search(
         )
     else:
         # This is for maintaining backwards compatibility
-        if check_backend_access_control_mode() == "true":
+        if check_backend_access_control_mode():
             return_value = []
             for search_result in search_results:
                 prepared_search_results = await prepare_search_result(search_result)
diff --git a/cognee/modules/users/methods/get_authenticated_user.py b/cognee/modules/users/methods/get_authenticated_user.py
index 34d82586e..3cc16f3a8 100644
--- a/cognee/modules/users/methods/get_authenticated_user.py
+++ b/cognee/modules/users/methods/get_authenticated_user.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ logger = get_logger("get_authenticated_user")
 # Check environment variable to determine authentication requirement
 REQUIRE_AUTHENTICATION = (
     os.getenv("REQUIRE_AUTHENTICATION", "false").lower() == "true"
-    or check_backend_access_control_mode() == "true"
+    or check_backend_access_control_mode()
 )
 
 fastapi_users = get_fastapi_users()