diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index 747a83e8d..b93ce9c2c 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -353,6 +353,24 @@ defp visible_account_status(user) do
     end
   end
 
+  @spec privileged?(User.t(), atom()) :: boolean()
+  def privileged?(%User{is_admin: false, is_moderator: false}, _), do: false
+
+  def privileged?(
+        %User{local: true, is_admin: is_admin, is_moderator: is_moderator},
+        privilege_tag
+      ),
+      do:
+        privileged_for?(privilege_tag, is_admin, :admin_privileges) or
+          privileged_for?(privilege_tag, is_moderator, :moderator_privileges)
+
+  def privileged?(_, _), do: false
+
+  defp privileged_for?(privilege_tag, true, config_role_key),
+    do: privilege_tag in Config.get([:instance, config_role_key])
+
+  defp privileged_for?(_, _, _), do: false
+
   @spec superuser?(User.t()) :: boolean()
   def superuser?(%User{local: true, is_admin: true}), do: true
   def superuser?(%User{local: true, is_moderator: true}), do: true
diff --git a/test/pleroma/user_test.exs b/test/pleroma/user_test.exs
index ea1e45e63..192bffaa9 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/user_test.exs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ defmodule Pleroma.UserTest do
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ActivityPub
   alias Pleroma.Web.CommonAPI
 
-  use Pleroma.DataCase
+  use Pleroma.DataCase, async: false
   use Oban.Testing, repo: Pleroma.Repo
 
   import Pleroma.Factory
@@ -1878,6 +1878,47 @@ test "returns :approval_pending for unapproved user" do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "privileged?/1" do
+    setup do
+      clear_config([:instance, :admin_privileges], [:cofe, :suya])
+      clear_config([:instance, :moderator_privileges], [:cofe, :suya])
+    end
+
+    test "returns false for unprivileged users" do
+      user = insert(:user, local: true)
+
+      refute User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+    end
+
+    test "returns false for remote users" do
+      user = insert(:user, local: false)
+      remote_admin_user = insert(:user, local: false, is_admin: true)
+
+      refute User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+      refute User.privileged?(remote_admin_user, :cofe)
+    end
+
+    test "returns true for local moderators if, and only if, they are privileged" do
+      user = insert(:user, local: true, is_moderator: true)
+
+      assert User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+
+      clear_config([:instance, :moderator_privileges], [])
+
+      refute User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+    end
+
+    test "returns true for local admins if, and only if, they are privileged" do
+      user = insert(:user, local: true, is_admin: true)
+
+      assert User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+
+      clear_config([:instance, :admin_privileges], [])
+
+      refute User.privileged?(user, :cofe)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "superuser?/1" do
     test "returns false for unprivileged users" do
       user = insert(:user, local: true)