diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/common_validations.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/common_validations.ex
index 704b3abc9..1c5b1a059 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/common_validations.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/common_validations.ex
@@ -136,11 +136,11 @@ def same_domain?(cng, fields \\ [:actor, :object]) do
 
   # This figures out if a user is able to create, delete or modify something
   # based on the domain and superuser status
-  @spec validate_modification_rights(Ecto.Changeset.t()) :: Ecto.Changeset.t()
-  def validate_modification_rights(cng) do
+  @spec validate_modification_rights(Ecto.Changeset.t(), atom()) :: Ecto.Changeset.t()
+  def validate_modification_rights(cng, privilege) do
     actor = User.get_cached_by_ap_id(get_field(cng, :actor))
 
-    if User.superuser?(actor) || same_domain?(cng) do
+    if User.privileged?(actor, privilege) || same_domain?(cng) do
       cng
     else
       cng
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validator.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validator.ex
index 035fd5bc9..6e4208167 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validator.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validator.ex
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ defp validate_data(cng) do
     |> validate_required([:id, :type, :actor, :to, :cc, :object])
     |> validate_inclusion(:type, ["Delete"])
     |> validate_delete_actor(:actor)
-    |> validate_modification_rights()
+    |> validate_modification_rights(:status_delete)
     |> validate_object_or_user_presence(allowed_types: @deletable_types)
     |> add_deleted_activity_id()
   end
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validation_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validation_test.exs
index ea4664859..ba137604b 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validation_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/activity_pub/object_validators/delete_validation_test.exs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
 
 defmodule Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.ObjectValidators.DeleteValidationTest do
-  use Pleroma.DataCase, async: true
+  use Pleroma.DataCase, async: false
 
   alias Pleroma.Object
   alias Pleroma.Web.ActivityPub.Builder
@@ -90,17 +90,26 @@ test "it's invalid if the actor of the object and the actor of delete are from d
       assert {:actor, {"is not allowed to modify object", []}} in cng.errors
     end
 
-    test "it's valid if the actor of the object is a local superuser",
+    test "it's only valid if the actor of the object is a privileged local user",
          %{valid_post_delete: valid_post_delete} do
+      clear_config([:instance, :moderator_privileges], [:status_delete])
+
       user =
         insert(:user, local: true, is_moderator: true, ap_id: "https://gensokyo.2hu/users/raymoo")
 
-      valid_other_actor =
+      post_delete_with_moderator_actor =
         valid_post_delete
         |> Map.put("actor", user.ap_id)
 
-      {:ok, _, meta} = ObjectValidator.validate(valid_other_actor, [])
+      {:ok, _, meta} = ObjectValidator.validate(post_delete_with_moderator_actor, [])
+
       assert meta[:do_not_federate]
+
+      clear_config([:instance, :moderator_privileges], [])
+
+      {:error, cng} = ObjectValidator.validate(post_delete_with_moderator_actor, [])
+
+      assert {:actor, {"is not allowed to modify object", []}} in cng.errors
     end
   end
 end