diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ee9e04568..79fe674a9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
 ### Added
 - `activeMonth` and `activeHalfyear` fields in NodeInfo usage.users object
+- 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
 
 ### Fixed
 - Subscription(Bell) Notifications: Don't create from Pipeline Ingested replies
@@ -67,7 +69,6 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 - Attachment dimensions and blurhashes are federated when available.
 - Mastodon API: support `poll` notification.
 - Pinned posts federation
-- AdminAPI: allow moderators to manage reports, users, invites, and custom emojis
 
 ### Fixed
 - Don't crash so hard when email settings are invalid.
diff --git a/config/config.exs b/config/config.exs
index dfa73940f..2bde5b826 100644
--- a/config/config.exs
+++ b/config/config.exs
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ config :pleroma, :instance,
   ],
   show_reactions: true,
   password_reset_token_validity: 60 * 60 * 24,
-  profile_directory: true
+  profile_directory: true,
+  privileged_staff: false
 
 config :pleroma, :welcome,
   direct_message: [
diff --git a/config/description.exs b/config/description.exs
index 517077acf..ea3f34abe 100644
--- a/config/description.exs
+++ b/config/description.exs
@@ -941,6 +941,12 @@ config :pleroma, :config_description, [
         key: :profile_directory,
         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)"
       }
     ]
   },
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
index 7072d5d61..8e657ee0f 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/mastodon_api/views/instance_view.ex
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.MastodonAPI.InstanceView do
           features: features(),
           federation: federation(),
           fields_limits: fields_limits(),
-          post_formats: Config.get([:instance, :allowed_post_formats])
+          post_formats: Config.get([:instance, :allowed_post_formats]),
+          privileged_staff: Config.get([:instance, :privileged_staff])
         },
         stats: %{mau: Pleroma.User.active_user_count()},
         vapid_public_key: Keyword.get(Pleroma.Web.Push.vapid_config(), :public_key)
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
index 3781781c8..80a2ce676 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/nodeinfo/nodeinfo.ex
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ 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)
+        skipThreadContainment: Config.get([:instance, :skip_thread_containment], false),
+        privilegedStaff: Config.get([:instance, :privileged_staff])
       }
     }
   end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe0a11dec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2021 Pleroma Authors <https://pleroma.social/>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+
+defmodule Pleroma.Web.Plugs.EnsureStaffPrivilegedPlug do
+  @moduledoc """
+  Ensures if 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(conn, _) do
+    if Config.get!([:instance, :privileged_staff]) do
+      conn
+    else
+      conn
+      |> render_error(:forbidden, "User is not an admin.")
+      |> halt()
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
index b2ca09784..02ca8d70a 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/router.ex
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ 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
@@ -195,7 +199,6 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     post("/relay", RelayController, :follow)
     delete("/relay", RelayController, :unfollow)
 
-    get("/users/:nickname/password_reset", AdminAPIController, :get_password_reset)
     patch("/users/force_password_reset", AdminAPIController, :force_password_reset)
     get("/users/:nickname/credentials", AdminAPIController, :show_user_credentials)
     patch("/users/:nickname/credentials", AdminAPIController, :update_user_credentials)
@@ -228,6 +231,24 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     post("/backups", AdminAPIController, :create_backup)
   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])
+
+    delete("/users", UserController, :delete)
+
+    get("/users/:nickname/password_reset", AdminAPIController, :get_password_reset)
+    patch("/users/:nickname/credentials", AdminAPIController, :update_user_credentials)
+
+    get("/users/:nickname/statuses", AdminAPIController, :list_user_statuses)
+    get("/users/:nickname/chats", AdminAPIController, :list_user_chats)
+
+    get("/statuses", StatusController, :index)
+
+    get("/chats/:id", ChatController, :show)
+    get("/chats/:id/messages", ChatController, :messages)
+  end
+
   # AdminAPI: admins and mods (staff) can perform these actions
   scope "/api/v1/pleroma/admin", Pleroma.Web.AdminAPI do
     pipe_through(:admin_api)
@@ -240,22 +261,16 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     patch("/users/deactivate", UserController, :deactivate)
     patch("/users/approve", UserController, :approve)
 
-    delete("/users", UserController, :delete)
-
     post("/users/invite_token", InviteController, :create)
     get("/users/invites", InviteController, :index)
     post("/users/revoke_invite", InviteController, :revoke)
     post("/users/email_invite", InviteController, :email)
 
-    get("/users/:nickname/password_reset", AdminAPIController, :get_password_reset)
     patch("/users/force_password_reset", AdminAPIController, :force_password_reset)
     get("/users/:nickname/credentials", AdminAPIController, :show_user_credentials)
-    patch("/users/:nickname/credentials", AdminAPIController, :update_user_credentials)
 
     get("/users", UserController, :index)
     get("/users/:nickname", UserController, :show)
-    get("/users/:nickname/statuses", AdminAPIController, :list_user_statuses)
-    get("/users/:nickname/chats", AdminAPIController, :list_user_chats)
 
     get("/instances/:instance/statuses", InstanceController, :list_statuses)
     delete("/instances/:instance", InstanceController, :delete)
@@ -269,15 +284,12 @@ defmodule Pleroma.Web.Router do
     get("/statuses/:id", StatusController, :show)
     put("/statuses/:id", StatusController, :update)
     delete("/statuses/:id", StatusController, :delete)
-    get("/statuses", StatusController, :index)
 
     get("/moderation_log", AdminAPIController, :list_log)
 
     post("/reload_emoji", AdminAPIController, :reload_emoji)
     get("/stats", AdminAPIController, :stats)
 
-    get("/chats/:id", ChatController, :show)
-    get("/chats/:id/messages", ChatController, :messages)
     delete("/chats/:id/messages/:message_id", ChatController, :delete_message)
   end
 
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74f4ae504
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/plugs/ensure_staff_privileged_plug_test.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# Pleroma: A lightweight social networking server
+# Copyright © 2017-2021 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