diff --git a/app/activitypub/routes.py b/app/activitypub/routes.py
index bbed2c98..e31a6ce6 100644
--- a/app/activitypub/routes.py
+++ b/app/activitypub/routes.py
@@ -835,8 +835,7 @@ def process_inbox_request(request_json, activitypublog_id, ip_address):
                                 for ocp in old_cross_posts:
                                     if ocp.cross_posts is not None and post.id in ocp.cross_posts:
                                         ocp.cross_posts.remove(post.id)
-                            delete_post_or_comment(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id)
-                            activity_log.result = 'success'
+                            delete_post_or_comment(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id, activity_log.id)
                     elif request_json['object']['type'] == 'Page': # Sent for Mastodon's benefit
                         activity_log.result = 'ignored'
                         activity_log.exception_message = 'Intended for Mastodon'
diff --git a/app/activitypub/util.py b/app/activitypub/util.py
index 4def65ef..0f41bfda 100644
--- a/app/activitypub/util.py
+++ b/app/activitypub/util.py
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ def comment_model_to_json(reply: PostReply) -> dict:
     }
     if reply.edited_at:
         reply_data['updated'] = ap_datetime(reply.edited_at)
+    if reply.deleted:
+        if reply.deleted_by == reply.user_id:
+            reply_data['content'] = '<p>Deleted by author</p>'
+            reply_data['source']['content'] = 'Deleted by author'
+        else:
+            reply_data['content'] = '<p>Deleted by moderator</p>'
+            reply_data['source']['content'] = 'Deleted by moderator'
     return reply_data
 
 
@@ -1295,18 +1302,24 @@ def is_activitypub_request():
     return 'application/ld+json' in request.headers.get('Accept', '') or 'application/activity+json' in request.headers.get('Accept', '')
 
 
-def delete_post_or_comment(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id):
+def delete_post_or_comment(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id, aplog_id):
     if current_app.debug:
-        delete_post_or_comment_task(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id)
+        delete_post_or_comment_task(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id, aplog_id)
     else:
-        delete_post_or_comment_task.delay(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id)
+        delete_post_or_comment_task.delay(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id, aplog_id)
 
 
 @celery.task
-def delete_post_or_comment_task(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id):
+def delete_post_or_comment_task(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id, aplog_id):
     deletor = find_actor_or_create(user_ap_id)
     community = find_actor_or_create(community_ap_id, community_only=True)
     to_delete = find_liked_object(to_be_deleted_ap_id)
+    if to_delete.deleted:
+        aplog = ActivityPubLog.query.get(aplog_id)
+        if aplog:
+            aplog.result = 'ignored'
+            aplog.exception_message = 'Activity about local content which is already present'
+        return
 
     if deletor and community and to_delete:
         if deletor.is_admin() or community.is_moderator(deletor) or community.is_instance_admin(deletor) or to_delete.author.id == deletor.id:
@@ -1323,12 +1336,8 @@ def delete_post_or_comment_task(user_ap_id, community_ap_id, to_be_deleted_ap_id
             elif isinstance(to_delete, PostReply):
                 if not to_delete.author.bot:
                     to_delete.post.reply_count -= 1
-                if to_delete.has_replies():
-                    to_delete.body = 'Deleted by author' if to_delete.author.id == deletor.id else 'Deleted by moderator'
-                    to_delete.body_html = markdown_to_html(to_delete.body)
-                else:
-                    to_delete.delete_dependencies()
-                    to_delete.deleted = True
+                to_delete.deleted = True
+                to_delete.deleted_by = deletor.id
                 to_delete.author.post_reply_count -= 1
                 to_delete.deleted_by = deletor.id
                 db.session.commit()
@@ -1398,12 +1407,8 @@ def remove_data_from_banned_user_task(deletor_ap_id, user_ap_id, target):
     for post_reply in post_replies:
         if not user.bot:
             post_reply.post.reply_count -= 1
-        if post_reply.has_replies():
-            post_reply.body = 'Banned'
-            post_reply.body_html = markdown_to_html(post_reply.body)
-        else:
-            post_reply.delete_dependencies()
-            post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted_by = deletor.id
     db.session.commit()
 
     for post in posts:
diff --git a/app/cli.py b/app/cli.py
index a42783b9..4b22c811 100644
--- a/app/cli.py
+++ b/app/cli.py
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ def register(app):
             for post_reply in PostReply.query.filter(PostReply.deleted == True,
                                                      PostReply.posted_at < utcnow() - timedelta(days=7)).all():
                 post_reply.delete_dependencies()
-                db.session.delete(post_reply)
+                if not post_reply.has_replies():
+                    db.session.delete(post_reply)
             db.session.commit()
 
             for post in Post.query.filter(Post.deleted == True,
diff --git a/app/community/util.py b/app/community/util.py
index b865d48c..7d5eba0f 100644
--- a/app/community/util.py
+++ b/app/community/util.py
@@ -566,12 +566,8 @@ def delete_post_reply_from_community_task(post_reply_id):
     post = post_reply.post
     community = post.community
     if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or community.is_moderator():
-        if post_reply.has_replies():
-            post_reply.body = 'Deleted by author' if post_reply.author.id == current_user.id else 'Deleted by moderator'
-            post_reply.body_html = markdown_to_html(post_reply.body)
-        else:
-            post_reply.delete_dependencies()
-            post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted_by = current_user.id
         db.session.commit()
 
         # federate delete
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 38f67f19..2779d2f0 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -1513,9 +1513,18 @@ class PostReply(db.Model):
             return parent.author.public_url()
 
     def delete_dependencies(self):
+        """
+        The first loop doesn't seem to ever be invoked with the current behaviour.
+        For replies with their own replies: functions which deal with removal don't set reply.deleted and don't call this, and
+        because reply.deleted isn't set, the cli task 7 days later doesn't call this either.
+
+        The plan is to set reply.deleted whether there's child replies or not (as happens with the API call), so I've commented
+        it out so the current behaviour isn't changed.
+
         for child_reply in self.child_replies():
             child_reply.delete_dependencies()
             db.session.delete(child_reply)
+        """
 
         db.session.query(PostReplyBookmark).filter(PostReplyBookmark.post_reply_id == self.id).delete()
         db.session.query(Report).filter(Report.suspect_post_reply_id == self.id).delete()
diff --git a/app/post/routes.py b/app/post/routes.py
index 47f5fc77..6770d1fc 100644
--- a/app/post/routes.py
+++ b/app/post/routes.py
@@ -681,9 +681,13 @@ def post_options(post_id: int):
 def post_reply_options(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
     post = Post.query.get_or_404(post_id)
     post_reply = PostReply.query.get_or_404(comment_id)
-    if current_user.is_anonymous or not current_user.is_admin():
-        if post.deleted or post_reply.deleted:
+    if post.deleted or post_reply.deleted:
+        if current_user.is_anonymous:
             abort(404)
+        if (not post.community.is_moderator() and
+            not current_user.is_admin() and
+            (post_reply.deleted_by is not None and post_reply.deleted_by != current_user.id)):
+            abort(401)
 
     existing_bookmark = []
     if current_user.is_authenticated:
@@ -1597,17 +1601,12 @@ def post_reply_delete(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
     post_reply = PostReply.query.get_or_404(comment_id)
     community = post.community
     if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or community.is_moderator() or current_user.is_admin():
-        if post_reply.has_replies():
-            post_reply.body = 'Deleted by author' if post_reply.author.id == current_user.id else 'Deleted by moderator'
-            post_reply.body_html = markdown_to_html(post_reply.body)
-        else:
-            post_reply.delete_dependencies()
-            post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted = True
+        post_reply.deleted_by = current_user.id
         g.site.last_active = community.last_active = utcnow()
         if not post_reply.author.bot:
             post.reply_count -= 1
         post_reply.author.post_reply_count -= 1
-        post_reply.deleted_by = current_user.id
         db.session.commit()
         flash(_('Comment deleted.'))
         # federate delete
@@ -1627,11 +1626,12 @@ def post_reply_delete(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
             if post_reply.user_id != current_user.id:
                 delete_json['summary'] = 'Deleted by mod'
 
-            if not post.community.is_local():  # this is a remote community, send it to the instance that hosts it
-                success = post_request(post.community.ap_inbox_url, delete_json, current_user.private_key,
-                                       current_user.public_url() + '#main-key')
-                if success is False or isinstance(success, str):
-                    flash('Failed to send delete to remote server', 'error')
+            if not post.community.is_local():
+                if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or post.community.is_moderator(current_user):
+                    success = post_request(post.community.ap_inbox_url, delete_json, current_user.private_key,
+                                           current_user.public_url() + '#main-key')
+                    if success is False or isinstance(success, str):
+                        flash('Failed to send delete to remote server', 'error')
             else:  # local community - send it to followers on remote instances
                 announce = {
                     "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/announce/{gibberish(15)}",
@@ -1658,6 +1658,107 @@ def post_reply_delete(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
     return redirect(url_for('activitypub.post_ap', post_id=post.id))
 
 
+@bp.route('/post/<int:post_id>/comment/<int:comment_id>/restore', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
+@login_required
+def post_reply_restore(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
+    post = Post.query.get_or_404(post_id)
+    post_reply = PostReply.query.get_or_404(comment_id)
+    community = post.community
+    if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or post.community.is_moderator() or current_user.is_admin():
+        if post_reply.deleted_by == post_reply.user_id:
+            was_mod_deletion = False
+        else:
+            was_mod_deletion = True
+        post_reply.deleted = False
+        post_reply.deleted_by = None
+        if not post_reply.author.bot:
+            post.reply_count += 1
+        post_reply.author.post_reply_count += 1
+        db.session.commit()
+        flash(_('Comment restored.'))
+
+        # Federate un-delete
+        if not post.community.local_only:
+            delete_json = {
+              "actor": current_user.public_url(),
+              "to": ["https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"],
+              "object": {
+                  'id': f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/delete/{gibberish(15)}",
+                  'type': 'Delete',
+                  'actor': current_user.public_url(),
+                  'audience': post.community.public_url(),
+                  'to': [post.community.public_url(), 'https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public'],
+                  'published': ap_datetime(utcnow()),
+                  'cc': [
+                      current_user.followers_url()
+                  ],
+                  'object': post_reply.ap_id,
+                  'uri': post_reply.ap_id,
+              },
+              "cc": [post.community.public_url()],
+              "audience": post.community.public_url(),
+              "type": "Undo",
+              "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/undo/{gibberish(15)}"
+            }
+            if was_mod_deletion:
+                delete_json['object']['summary'] = "Deleted by mod"
+
+            if not post.community.is_local():  # this is a remote community, send it to the instance that hosts it
+                if not was_mod_deletion or (was_mod_deletion and post.community.is_moderator(current_user)):
+                    success = post_request(post.community.ap_inbox_url, delete_json, current_user.private_key,
+                                           current_user.public_url() + '#main-key')
+                    if success is False or isinstance(success, str):
+                        flash('Failed to send delete to remote server', 'error')
+
+            else:  # local community - send it to followers on remote instances
+                announce = {
+                  "id": f"https://{current_app.config['SERVER_NAME']}/activities/announce/{gibberish(15)}",
+                  "type": 'Announce',
+                  "to": [
+                      "https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public"
+                  ],
+                  "actor": post.community.public_url(),
+                  "cc": [
+                      post.community.ap_followers_url
+                  ],
+                  '@context': default_context(),
+                  'object': delete_json
+                }
+
+                for instance in post.community.following_instances():
+                    if instance.inbox and not current_user.has_blocked_instance(instance.id) and not instance_banned(instance.domain):
+                        send_to_remote_instance(instance.id, post.community.id, announce)
+
+        if post_reply.user_id != current_user.id:
+            add_to_modlog('restore_post_reply', community_id=post.community.id, link_text=f'comment on {shorten_string(post.title)}',
+                          link=f'post/{post.id}#comment_{post_reply.id}')
+
+    return redirect(url_for('activitypub.post_ap', post_id=post.id))
+
+
+@bp.route('/post/<int:post_id>/comment/<int:comment_id>/purge', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
+@login_required
+def post_reply_purge(post_id: int, comment_id: int):
+    post = Post.query.get_or_404(post_id)
+    post_reply = PostReply.query.get_or_404(comment_id)
+    if not post_reply.deleted:
+        abort(404)
+    if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id and (post_reply.deleted_by is None or post_reply.deleted_by != post_reply.user_id):
+        abort(401)
+    if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or post.community.is_moderator() or current_user.is_admin():
+        if not post_reply.has_replies():
+            post_reply.delete_dependencies()
+            db.session.delete(post_reply)
+            db.session.commit()
+            flash(_('Comment purged.'))
+        else:
+            flash(_('Comments that have been replied to cannot be purged.'))
+    else:
+        abort(401)
+
+    return redirect(url_for('activitypub.post_ap', post_id=post.id))
+
+
 @bp.route('/post/<int:post_id>/notification', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @login_required
 def post_notification(post_id: int):
diff --git a/app/post/util.py b/app/post/util.py
index f904abb3..3eddaedf 100644
--- a/app/post/util.py
+++ b/app/post/util.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from app.utils import blocked_instances, blocked_users
 
 # replies to a post, in a tree, sorted by a variety of methods
 def post_replies(post_id: int, sort_by: str, show_first: int = 0) -> List[PostReply]:
-    comments = PostReply.query.filter_by(post_id=post_id).filter(PostReply.deleted == False)
+    comments = PostReply.query.filter_by(post_id=post_id)
     if current_user.is_authenticated:
         instance_ids = blocked_instances(current_user.id)
         if instance_ids:
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def get_comment_branch(post_id: int, comment_id: int, sort_by: str) -> List[Post
     if parent_comment is None:
         return []
 
-    comments = PostReply.query.filter(PostReply.post_id == post_id, PostReply.deleted == False)
+    comments = PostReply.query.filter(PostReply.post_id == post_id)
     if current_user.is_authenticated:
         instance_ids = blocked_instances(current_user.id)
         if instance_ids:
diff --git a/app/templates/post/_post_reply_teaser.html b/app/templates/post/_post_reply_teaser.html
index 6a69e246..c82612b3 100644
--- a/app/templates/post/_post_reply_teaser.html
+++ b/app/templates/post/_post_reply_teaser.html
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   no_collapse: Don't collapse for admin and moderator views
 #}
 {% if current_user.is_authenticated -%}
-    {% set collapsed = (post_reply.score <= current_user.reply_collapse_threshold)
+    {% set collapsed = ((post_reply.score <= current_user.reply_collapse_threshold) or post_reply.deleted)
                        and not no_collapse -%}
 {% else -%}
     {% set collapsed = (post_reply.score <= -10) and not no_collapse -%}
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@
                 <span class="red fe fe-report" title="{{ _('Reported. Check comment for issues.') }}"></span>
             {% endif -%}
         </div>
+        <div class="col-auto">
+            {% if post_reply.deleted -%}
+                <span class="red fe fe-delete" title="{{ _('Comment deleted') }}"></span>
+            {% endif -%}
+        </div>
         <div class="col-auto">
             <a class="unhide" href="#"><span class="fe fe-expand"></span></a>
         </div>
diff --git a/app/templates/post/continue_discussion.html b/app/templates/post/continue_discussion.html
index a30f11a6..bda80148 100644
--- a/app/templates/post/continue_discussion.html
+++ b/app/templates/post/continue_discussion.html
@@ -28,7 +28,15 @@
                                 {% endif %}
                             </div>
                             <div class="comment_body hidable {% if comment['comment'].reports and current_user.is_authenticated and post.community.is_moderator(current_user) %}reported{% endif %}">
-                                {{ comment['comment'].body_html | safe }}
+                                {% if comment['comment'].deleted -%}
+                                  {% if comment['comment'].deleted_by is none or comment['comment'].deleted_by != comment['comment'].user_id -%}
+                                    <p>Deleted by moderator</p>
+                                  {% else -%}
+                                    <p>Deleted by author</p>
+                                  {% endif -%}
+                                {% else -%}
+                                  {{ comment['comment'].body_html | community_links | safe }}
+                                {% endif -%}
                             </div>
                         </div>
                         <div class="comment_actions hidable">
diff --git a/app/templates/post/post.html b/app/templates/post/post.html
index 1e9fa6c2..cc0094aa 100644
--- a/app/templates/post/post.html
+++ b/app/templates/post/post.html
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
                          aria-level="{{ comment['comment'].depth + 1 }}" role="treeitem" aria-expanded="true" tabindex="0">
                         <div class="limit_height">{% if not comment['comment'].author.indexable -%}<!--googleoff: all-->{% endif -%}
                             <div class="comment_author">
-                                {% with collapsed = comment['comment'].score < reply_collapse_threshold -%}
+                                {% with collapsed = (comment['comment'].score < reply_collapse_threshold or comment['comment'].deleted) -%}
                                     {{ render_username(comment['comment'].author) }}
                                 {% endwith -%}
                                 {% if comment['comment'].author.id == post.author.id -%}<span title="Submitter of original post" aria-label="{{ _('Post creator') }}" class="small">[OP] </span>{% endif -%}
@@ -91,7 +91,15 @@
                                 {% endif -%}
                             </div>
                             <div class="comment_body hidable {% if comment['comment'].reports and current_user.is_authenticated and post.community.is_moderator(current_user) -%}reported{% endif -%}">
-                                {{ comment['comment'].body_html | community_links | safe }}
+                                {% if comment['comment'].deleted -%}
+                                  {% if comment['comment'].deleted_by is none or comment['comment'].deleted_by != comment['comment'].user_id -%}
+                                    <p>Deleted by moderator</p>
+                                  {% else -%}
+                                    <p>Deleted by author</p>
+                                  {% endif -%}
+                                {% else -%}
+                                  {{ comment['comment'].body_html | community_links | safe }}
+                                {% endif -%}
                             </div>{% if not comment['comment'].author.indexable -%}<!--googleon: all-->{% endif -%}
                         </div>
                         <div class="comment_actions hidable">
@@ -104,7 +112,7 @@
                             {% endwith -%}
                             </div>
                             <div class="hide_button">
-                                {% if comment['comment'].score <= reply_collapse_threshold -%}
+                                {% if comment['comment'].score <= reply_collapse_threshold or comment['comment'].deleted -%}
                                     <a href='#'><span class="fe fe-expand"></span></a>
                                 {% else -%}
                                     <a href='#'><span class="fe fe-collapse"></span></a>
@@ -132,7 +140,7 @@
                             {% endif -%}
                         {% endif -%}
                     </div>
-                    {% if comment['comment'].score <= reply_collapse_threshold -%}
+                    {% if comment['comment'].score <= reply_collapse_threshold or comment['comment'].deleted -%}
                         <script nonce="{{ session['nonce'] }}" type="text/javascript">
                             toBeHidden.push({{ comment['comment'].id }});
                         </script>
diff --git a/app/templates/post/post_reply_options.html b/app/templates/post/post_reply_options.html
index 78bb7f36..339deb57 100644
--- a/app/templates/post/post_reply_options.html
+++ b/app/templates/post/post_reply_options.html
@@ -19,8 +19,14 @@
                             {% endif -%}
                             {% if post_reply.user_id == current_user.id or post.community.is_moderator() or post.community.is_owner() or current_user.is_admin() -%}
                                 {% if post_reply.deleted -%}
-                                    <li><a href="{{ url_for('post.post_reply_restore', post_id=post.id, comment_id=post_reply.id) }}" class="no-underline confirm_first" rel="nofollow"><span class="fe fe-delete"></span>
+                                    <li><a href="{{ url_for('post.post_reply_restore', post_id=post.id, comment_id=post_reply.id) }}" class="no-underline confirm_first" rel="nofollow"><span class="fe fe-arrow-up"></span>
                                         {{ _('Restore') }}</a></li>
+                                    {% if not post_reply.has_replies() -%}
+                                        {% if post.community.is_moderator() or current_user.is_admin() or (post_reply.user_id == current_user.id and post_reply.deleted_by == post_reply.user_id) -%}
+                                            <li><a href="{{ url_for('post.post_reply_purge', post_id=post.id, comment_id=post_reply.id) }}" class="no-underline confirm_first" rel="nofollow"><span class="fe fe-delete red"></span>
+                                            {{ _('Purge') }}</a></li>
+                                        {% endif -%}
+                                    {% endif -%}
                                 {% else -%}
                                     <li><a href="{{ url_for('post.post_reply_delete', post_id=post.id, comment_id=post_reply.id) }}" class="no-underline confirm_first" rel="nofollow"><span class="fe fe-delete"></span>
                                         {{ _('Delete') }}</a></li>
diff --git a/app/user/routes.py b/app/user/routes.py
index 031fbbed..141be32e 100644
--- a/app/user/routes.py
+++ b/app/user/routes.py
@@ -63,9 +63,13 @@ def show_profile(user):
     else:
         upvoted = []
     subscribed = Community.query.filter_by(banned=False).join(CommunityMember).filter(CommunityMember.user_id == user.id).all()
-    if current_user.is_anonymous or user.id != current_user.id:
+    if current_user.is_anonymous or (user.id != current_user.id and not current_user.is_admin()):
         moderates = moderates.filter(Community.private_mods == False)
-    post_replies = PostReply.query.filter_by(user_id=user.id).filter(PostReply.deleted == False).order_by(desc(PostReply.posted_at)).paginate(page=replies_page, per_page=50, error_out=False)
+        post_replies = PostReply.query.filter_by(user_id=user.id, deleted=False).order_by(desc(PostReply.posted_at)).paginate(page=replies_page, per_page=50, error_out=False)
+    elif current_user.is_admin():
+        post_replies = PostReply.query.filter_by(user_id=user.id).order_by(desc(PostReply.posted_at)).paginate(page=replies_page, per_page=50, error_out=False)
+    elif current_user.id == user.id:
+        post_replies = PostReply.query.filter_by(user_id=user.id).filter(or_(PostReply.deleted == False, PostReply.deleted_by == user.id)).order_by(desc(PostReply.posted_at)).paginate(page=replies_page, per_page=50, error_out=False)
 
     # profile info
     canonical = user.ap_public_url if user.ap_public_url else None