diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 19bccd115..8a18c151c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 - `activeMonth` and `activeHalfyear` fields in NodeInfo usage.users object
 - Experimental support for Finch. Put `config :tesla, :adapter, {Tesla.Adapter.Finch, name: MyFinch}` in your secrets file to use it. Reverse Proxy will still use Hackney.
 - `ForceMentionsInPostContent` MRF policy
-- AdminAPI: allow moderators to manage reports, users, invites, and custom emojis
-- AdminAPI: restrict moderators to access sensitive data: change user credentials, get password reset token, read private statuses and chats, etc
 - PleromaAPI: Add remote follow API endpoint at `POST /api/v1/pleroma/remote_interaction`
 - MastoAPI: Add `GET /api/v1/accounts/lookup`
 - MastoAPI: Profile Directory support
diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index 2a5770bf4..4cdc90c7a 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -256,8 +256,7 @@ config :pleroma, :instance,
   show_reactions: true,
   password_reset_token_validity: 60 * 60 * 24,
   profile_directory: true,
-  privileged_staff: false,
-  admin_privileges: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials],
+  admin_privileges: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials, :statuses_read],
   moderator_privileges: [],
   max_endorsed_users: 20,
   birthday_required: false,
diff --git a/config/description.exs b/config/description.exs
index 4986ccce6..b0b8ecd88 100644
--- a/config/description.exs
+++ b/config/description.exs
@@ -960,23 +960,17 @@ config :pleroma, :config_description, [
         type: :boolean,
         description: "Enable profile directory."
       },
-      %{
-        key: :privileged_staff,
-        type: :boolean,
-        description:
-          "Let moderators access sensitive data (e.g. updating user credentials, get password reset token, delete users, index and read private statuses and chats)"
-      },
       %{
         key: :admin_privileges,
         type: {:list, :atom},
-        suggestions: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials],
+        suggestions: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials, :statuses_read],
         description:
           "What extra priviledges to allow admins (e.g. updating user credentials, get password reset token, delete users, index and read private statuses and chats)"
       },
       %{
         key: :moderator_privileges,
         type: {:list, :atom},
-        suggestions: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials],
+        suggestions: [:user_deletion, :user_credentials, :statuses_read],
         description:
           "What extra priviledges to allow moderators (e.g. updating user credentials, get password reset token, delete users, index and read private statuses and chats)"
       },
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
index ee52475d5..f89c95a1c 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.InstanceView do
           federation: federation(),
           fields_limits: fields_limits(),
           post_formats: Config.get([:instance, :allowed_post_formats]),
-          privileged_staff: Config.get([:instance, :privileged_staff]),
           birthday_required: Config.get([:instance, :birthday_required]),
           birthday_min_age: Config.get([:instance, :birthday_min_age])
         },
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
index 62d445f34..c7b9ab2de 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
@@ -69,8 +69,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Nodeinfo.Nodeinfo do
         mailerEnabled: Config.get([Pleroma.Emails.Mailer, :enabled], false),
         features: features,
         restrictedNicknames: Config.get([Pleroma.User, :restricted_nicknames]),
-        skipThreadContainment: Config.get([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], false),
-        privilegedStaff: Config.get([:instance, :privileged_staff])
+        skipThreadContainment: Config.get([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], false)
       }
     }
   end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex
deleted file mode 100644
index 3c2109496..000000000
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,36 +0,0 @@
-# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
-# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
-
-defmodule Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug do
-  @moduledoc """
-  Ensures staff are privileged enough to do certain tasks.
-  """
-  import Pleroma.Web.TranslationHelpers
-  import Plug.Conn
-
-  alias Pleroma.Config
-  alias Pleroma.User
-
-  def init(options) do
-    options
-  end
-
-  def call(%{assigns: %{user: %User{is_admin: true}}} = conn, _), do: conn
-
-  def call(%{assigns: %{user: %User{is_moderator: true}}} = conn, _) do
-    if Config.get!([:instance, :privileged_staff]) do
-      conn
-    else
-      conn
-      |> render_error(:forbidden, "User is not an admin.")
-      |> halt()
-    end
-  end
-
-  def call(conn, _) do
-    conn
-    |> render_error(:forbidden, "User is not a staff member.")
-    |> halt()
-  end
-end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
index 4696b4007..21b77b624 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
@@ -101,10 +101,6 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.IdempotencyPlug)
   end
 
-  pipeline :require_privileged_staff do
-    plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug)
-  end
-
   pipeline :require_admin do
     plug(Pleroma.Web.Plugs.UserIsAdminPlug)
   end
@@ -273,11 +269,6 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     get("/chats/:id/messages", ChatController, :messages)
   end
 
-  # AdminAPI: admins and mods (staff) can perform these actions (if enabled by config)
-  scope "/api/v1/pleroma/admin", Pleroma.Web.AdminAPI do
-    pipe_through([:admin_api, :require_privileged_staff])
-  end
-
   # AdminAPI: admins and mods (staff) can perform these actions
   scope "/api/v1/pleroma/admin", Pleroma.Web.AdminAPI do
     pipe_through(:admin_api)
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs
deleted file mode 100644
index c684714b8..000000000
--- a/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
-# Copyright © 2017-2022 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
-
-defmodule Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlugTest do
-  use Pleroma.Web.ConnCase, async: true
-
-  alias Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug
-  import Pleroma.Factory
-
-  test "accepts a user that is an admin" do
-    user = insert(:user, is_admin: true)
-
-    conn = assign(build_conn(), :user, user)
-
-    ret_conn = EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug.call(conn, %{})
-
-    assert conn == ret_conn
-  end
-
-  test "accepts a user that is a moderator when :privileged_staff is enabled" do
-    clear_config([:instance, :privileged_staff], true)
-    user = insert(:user, is_moderator: true)
-
-    conn = assign(build_conn(), :user, user)
-
-    ret_conn = EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug.call(conn, %{})
-
-    assert conn == ret_conn
-  end
-
-  test "denies a user that is a moderator when :privileged_staff is disabled" do
-    clear_config([:instance, :privileged_staff], false)
-    user = insert(:user, is_moderator: true)
-
-    conn =
-      build_conn()
-      |> assign(:user, user)
-      |> EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug.call(%{})
-
-    assert conn.status == 403
-  end
-
-  test "denies a user that isn't a staff member" do
-    user = insert(:user)
-
-    conn =
-      build_conn()
-      |> assign(:user, user)
-      |> EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug.call(%{})
-
-    assert conn.status == 403
-  end
-
-  test "denies when a user isn't set" do
-    conn = EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug.call(build_conn(), %{})
-
-    assert conn.status == 403
-  end
-end