diff --git a/docker/deploy/backend.Dockerfile b/docker/deploy/backend.Dockerfile
index 622e6a44..e5195e48 100644
--- a/docker/deploy/backend.Dockerfile
+++ b/docker/deploy/backend.Dockerfile
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ RUN npm run build
 FROM base AS runner
 ENV NODE_ENV=production
 
-# Create non-root user with specific UID/GID
-RUN groupadd -r appgroup --gid 1000 && useradd -r -g appgroup --uid 1000 appuser
-
 # Copy production node_modules
 COPY --from=deps /app/node_modules ./node_modules
 # Copy built files
@@ -37,10 +34,10 @@ COPY --from=build /app/dist ./dist
 # Copy package files
 COPY package*.json ./
 
-# Create logs and uploads directories and set permissions
-RUN mkdir -p logs uploads && chown -R appuser:appgroup logs uploads && chmod -R 755 logs uploads
+# Create logs and uploads directories and set permissions (use existing node user with UID 1000)
+RUN mkdir -p logs uploads && chown -R node:node logs uploads && chmod -R 755 logs uploads
 
 EXPOSE 3001
-USER appuser
+USER node
 CMD ["node", "dist/app.js"]