Everything on, phase 4a: one answer everywhere for counts, search, collections and the instance API

Owner decision 2026-10-04: fix the mismatches and every other mismatch of the same kind.

- One counting rule (Domain/Privacy/Counted), Mastodon's. It is used for a persona's statuses_count, its outbox
  totalItems, NodeInfo localPosts and the instance status_count, which used to count four different things. It
  counts every post that is neither deleted nor a DM, boosts included, and circle and located posts too (owner
  decision). A group's count includes its remote members' posts.
- Users. Personas of banned or deleted roots no longer count, and are not found in search. NodeInfo now gives
  activeMonth and activeHalfyear, and the v2 instance gives active_month instead of a constant 0.
- replies_count counts only public and unlisted replies, so it no longer tells anyone that a private reply exists.
  Migration _012 recounts it.
- A remote account that deletes itself takes everything out of every count (GoneActors): its likes, downvotes,
  reactions and poll votes go and their counters come back, as do its boosts', replies' and quotes' counts, and its
  notifications. Lookups, account lists, search and favourited_by no longer show it. Migration _012 applies this to
  accounts already gone.
- Deleting a post also deletes its pins and the local boosts of it.
- /stalking gives the same total as following_count. Members are still never listed, and hide_collections is now
  always true, since the setting never did anything.
- Joining a community by invitation is following it, so /flock and /groupies agree; leaving unfollows.
- Search. Anyone may search, as on Mastodon; resolve and offset need a sign-in, offset pages, and deleted accounts
  are never found.
- notifications/unread_count counts what the list shows, and the owner's follower and following lists page with
  Link.
- The instance API advertises what is enforced:
  - max_characters, now enforced with a 422;
  - max_pinned_statuses = MaxPins;
  - the media types and limits MediaService and MediaOptions accept;
  - PollService's limits;
  - the configured languages;
  - no streaming URL until streaming exists.

  domain_count counts the servers we have exchanged with; which ones stays unpublished (peers is empty).
- Routes Mastodon answers now answer instead of 404:
  - directory, tags/{name}, timelines/link and identity_proofs;
  - instance/languages, translation_languages, domain_blocks and privacy_policy;
  - the v1 and v2 notification policy, and notification requests.

Also, from phase 3: a recovered password ends /clientapi sessions through a per-root SessionStamp claim instead of
comparing the JWT's whole-second nbf with the change time. That comparison let a token issued in the same second
survive, which made a test flaky.

671 tests pass.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01ELjqpznMFMNrJoJUj6K5p2

CLAUDE.md

@@ -201,13 +201,20 @@ group www-data and reaches the private mongod; `sudo -u www-data` works too.
 10. **Nothing slow happens inside a request.** Deliveries and inbox processing are `Job`s (`Infrastructure/Jobs`):
     leased, retried on Mastodon's curve, at most two per host, paused per host by `RemoteInstance`. The inbox answers
     202 once it has verified and queued; a handler must be idempotent (unique `ObjectURI`, job `DedupeKey`).
-11. **Every "may anyone see this" goes through `VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic`;** a persona-specific read uses `CanSee`, and
+11. **Every number about posts and users goes through `Domain/Privacy/Counted`** (owner decision 2026-10-04: one
+    answer everywhere): a persona's `statuses_count`, its outbox `totalItems`, NodeInfo `localPosts` and the instance
+    `status_count` all count Mastodon's way (not deleted, not a DM, boosts included, circle and located posts too);
+    users exclude personas of banned or deleted roots; `replies_count` counts only public and unlisted replies; a
+    remote account that deletes itself takes its likes, votes, reactions, boosts and replies out of every count
+    (`GoneActors`). Follower and following counts are public, their members never are (`hide_collections` is always
+    true).
+12. **Every "may anyone see this" goes through `VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic`;** a persona-specific read uses `CanSee`, and
     any other read of stored posts filters by `IsShown`. All three hide deleted posts and the posts of a remote account
     that deleted itself (`Post.AuthorGone`: kept, hidden everywhere, owner decision).
-12. **Remote content is stored only when someone here asked for it:** a persona follows the author, is addressed or
+13. **Remote content is stored only when someone here asked for it:** a persona follows the author, is addressed or
     mentioned, it replies to a local post, or it is addressed to a community the author follows; a public parent is
     fetched as context. Followers-only is detected by the author's stored `followers` URL.
-13. **Home timelines are written, not computed:** every stored or created post goes through `Fanout.Distribute`, and
+14. **Home timelines are written, not computed:** every stored or created post goes through `Fanout.Distribute`, and
     every delete removes its `TimelineEntry` rows. Local deletes are soft (content cleared, 410 Tombstone).
 
 ## Mastodon client API invariants
@@ -256,8 +263,8 @@ group www-data and reaches the private mongod; `sudo -u www-data` works too.
   gets "That username and password do not match." after the same hashing (`RootUsersService.Decoy`, a constant-time
   comparison), and only a correct password learns of a ban. Every recovery request answers the same sentence and
   queues a `SendRecovery` job, found or not; `RecoveryJob` sends the email and keeps only a SHA-256 of the code, for an
-  hour. A recovered password ends every session of the root (`RootSessions`: `CredentialsChangedAt` for `/clientapi`
-  JWTs, OpenIddict revocation for each persona).
+  hour. A recovered password ends every session of the root (`RootSessions`: a new `SessionStamp`, which every `/clientapi`
+  JWT carries, and OpenIddict revocation for each persona).
 - **Deleting a root deletes everything public it had** (`RootRemoval`, from the admin route or `/clientapi/user/delete`
   with the password): its sessions end, each persona and each group it owns sends `Delete{Actor}` to followers, members
   and the accounts it follows, the personas' posts are emptied, and `/peasants/{name}`, its inbox and WebFinger answer

FEDERATION.md

@@ -215,5 +215,7 @@ Posts with a location (shown to nearby users of this server) never leave the ser
 - Our own posts carry no custom emoji: emoji are received and shown, not offered.
 - Remote media is fetched through this server's proxy when a local client displays it. Video and audio are streamed
   through it with byte ranges passed on, so a PeerTube file is never fetched whole for one viewer.
-- Collections expose counts, not members.
+- Collections expose counts, not members: `/groupies` and `/stalking` give the same totals as the Mastodon API's
+  follower and following counts, and the outbox's `totalItems` is the persona's post count, though only public posts
+  are listed. `/api/v1/instance/peers` is empty: which servers this one talks to is not published.
 - Only `rsa-sha256`-style keys are verified. RFC 9421 signatures are planned.

PrivaPub.Tests/Http/FederationGetTests.cs

@@ -142,7 +142,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			Assert.Equal(ActivityJson, outbox.MediaType);
 			Assert.Equal("OrderedCollection", outbox.Json["type"]!.GetValue<string>());
 			Assert.Equal(persona.ActorUri() + "/anus", outbox.Json["id"]!.GetValue<string>());
-			Assert.Equal(22, outbox.Json["totalItems"]!.GetValue<int>());
+			// statuses_count, as Mastodon counts it: everything but the DM, the deleted post and the copy of a remote post,
+			// the followers-only and located posts and the boost included; only the public posts are listed
+			Assert.Equal(24, outbox.Json["totalItems"]!.GetValue<int>());
 			Assert.Null(outbox.Json["orderedItems"]);
 			var first = outbox.Json["first"]!.GetValue<string>();
 			Assert.Equal(persona.ActorUri() + "/anus?page=true", first);
@@ -221,7 +223,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			Assert.DoesNotContain(pending, followers.Text);
 			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, following.Status);
 			Assert.Equal(persona.ActorUri() + "/stalking", following.Json["id"]!.GetValue<string>());
-			Assert.Equal(0, following.Json["totalItems"]!.GetValue<int>());
+			Assert.Equal(1, following.Json["totalItems"]!.GetValue<int>());//counted, as following_count says, never listed
 			Assert.DoesNotContain(friend.UserName, following.Text);
 		}
 

PrivaPub.Tests/Http/MastodonInstanceTests.cs

@@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			var v2 = (await anonymous.Get("/api/v2/instance")).Ok();
 			Assert.Equal(InstanceController.Version, v2.Body.Text("version"));
 			Assert.Equal(PrivaPubHost.Host, v2.Body.Text("domain"));
-			Assert.Equal($"wss://{PrivaPubHost.Host}", v2.Body["configuration"]!["urls"].Text("streaming"));
+			Assert.Null(v2.Body["configuration"]!["urls"]!["streaming"]);//nothing streams yet, so nothing is advertised
+			Assert.Equal(PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers.StatusesController.MaxPins, v2.Body["configuration"]!["accounts"].Number("max_pinned_statuses"));
+			Assert.Contains("image/avif", v2.Body["configuration"]!["media_attachments"]!["supported_mime_types"]!.AsArray().Select(t => t!.GetValue<string>()));
 			Assert.True(v2.Body["registrations"].Flag("enabled"));
 			Assert.True((await anonymous.Get("/nodeinfo/2.1")).Ok().Body.Flag("openRegistrations"));
 			Assert.False(v2.Body["configuration"]!["translation"].Flag("enabled"));

PrivaPub.Tests/Http/OneAnswerTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Models.Federation;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Post;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Social;
+using PrivaPub.Tests.Support;
+using PrivaPub.Tests.Support.Host;
+
+using System.Net;
+using System.Text.Json.Nodes;
+
+using static PrivaPub.Tests.Support.Host.FederationHelpers;
+
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
+{
+	// Two views of the same fact give one answer (owner decision 2026-10-04: fix the mismatches).
+	[Trait("Category", "Integration")]
+	public sealed class OneAnswerTests : IAsyncLifetime
+	{
+		PrivaPubHost _host;
+		HttpClient _client;
+		Peer _peer;
+
+		public async ValueTask InitializeAsync()
+		{
+			Assert.SkipUnless(MongoFixture.Enabled, MongoFixture.Skip);
+			_host = await PrivaPubHost.Shared();
+			_client = _host.Client();
+			_peer = await Peer.Start();
+		}
+
+		public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+		{
+			_client?.Dispose();
+			if (_peer != default)
+				await _peer.DisposeAsync();
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task Anyone_may_search_and_only_a_signed_in_reader_resolves_or_pages()
+		{
+			var reader = await _host.Mastodon("searcher");
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await _client.Get("/api/v2/search?q=somebody")).Status);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await _client.Get("/api/v2/search?q=somebody&resolve=true")).Status);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Unauthorized, (await _client.Get("/api/v2/search?q=somebody&offset=5")).Status);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await reader.Client.Get("/api/v2/search?q=somebody&offset=5")).Status);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task A_remote_account_that_deletes_itself_leaves_nothing_in_the_counts()
+		{
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
+			var author = await _host.Mastodon("liked");
+			var post = await author.Status("like me");
+			var fan = new RemoteActor(_peer, "fickle");
+			var like = new JsonObject
+			{
+				["id"] = $"{fan.Id}#likes/{Guid.NewGuid():N}",
+				["type"] = "Like",
+				["actor"] = fan.Id,
+				["object"] = post.Text("uri")
+			};
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Accepted, (await _client.SendAsync(fan.SignedPost("/human-centipede", like), token)).StatusCode);
+			await _host.RunInbox(like["id"]!.GetValue<string>(), token);
+			Assert.Equal(1, (await author.Client.Get($"/api/v1/statuses/{post.Text("id")}")).Ok().Body.Number("favourites_count"));
+
+			var delete = new JsonObject
+			{
+				["id"] = $"{fan.Id}#delete",
+				["type"] = "Delete",
+				["actor"] = fan.Id,
+				["object"] = fan.Id,
+				["to"] = new JsonArray("https://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#Public")
+			};
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.Accepted, (await _client.SendAsync(fan.SignedPost("/human-centipede", delete), token)).StatusCode);
+			await _host.RunInbox(delete["id"]!.GetValue<string>(), token);
+
+			Assert.Equal(0, (await author.Client.Get($"/api/v1/statuses/{post.Text("id")}")).Ok().Body.Number("favourites_count"));
+			Assert.Empty((await author.Client.Get($"/api/v1/statuses/{post.Text("id")}/favourited_by")).Ok().Array);
+			Assert.False(await DB.Default.Find<Favourite>().Match(f => f.ActorURI == fan.Id).ExecuteAnyAsync(token));
+			Assert.False(await DB.Default.Find<Notification>().Match(n => n.FromActorURI == fan.Id).ExecuteAnyAsync(token));
+			Assert.Equal(0, (await author.Client.Get("/api/v1/notifications/unread_count")).Ok().Body.Number("count"));
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task Only_public_and_unlisted_replies_are_counted()
+		{
+			var author = await _host.Mastodon("threadstart");
+			var replier = await _host.Mastodon("replier");
+			var root = await author.Status("say something");
+			var id = root.Text("id");
+
+			await replier.Status("in public", ("in_reply_to_id", id));
+			await replier.Status("quietly", ("in_reply_to_id", id), ("visibility", "unlisted"));
+			await replier.Status("for my followers", ("in_reply_to_id", id), ("visibility", "private"));
+			await replier.Status($"@{author.UserName} just you", ("in_reply_to_id", id), ("visibility", "direct"));
+
+			Assert.Equal(2, (await author.Client.Get($"/api/v1/statuses/{id}")).Ok().Body.Number("replies_count"));
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task A_status_longer_than_advertised_is_refused()
+		{
+			var author = await _host.Mastodon("wordy");
+			var limit = (await _client.Get("/api/v2/instance")).Ok().Body["configuration"]!["statuses"].Number("max_characters");
+
+			var refused = await author.Client.Post("/api/v1/statuses", ("status", new string('a', limit + 1)));
+			var accepted = await author.Client.Post("/api/v1/statuses", ("status", new string('a', limit)));
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.UnprocessableEntity, refused.Status);
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, accepted.Status);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task Joining_a_community_by_invitation_is_following_it()
+		{
+			var token = TestContext.Current.CancellationToken;
+			var owner = await _host.Persona(await _host.SignUp(), "commowner");
+			var joinerRoot = await _host.SignUp("joiner");
+			var joiner = await _host.Persona(joinerRoot, "joiner");
+			var group = await _host.Group(owner, community: true);
+			var groupName = group["userName"]!.GetValue<string>();
+			using var client = _host.As(joinerRoot.Jwt);
+
+			var joined = await client.PostJson("/clientapi/group/join", new { avatarId = joiner.Id, invitationCode = group["invitationCode"]!.GetValue<string>() });
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, joined.StatusCode);
+			Assert.Equal(1, (await _client.Fetch($"/peasants/{groupName}/groupies")).Json["totalItems"]!.GetValue<int>());
+			Assert.True(await DB.Default.Find<Following>().Match(f => f.AvatarId == joiner.Id && f.State == FollowState.Accepted).ExecuteAnyAsync(token));
+		}
+
+		public static TheoryData<string> AnsweredRoutes() => new()
+		{
+			"/api/v1/directory",
+			"/api/v1/tags/cats",
+			"/api/v1/instance/languages",
+			"/api/v1/instance/translation_languages",
+			"/api/v1/instance/domain_blocks",
+			"/api/v1/instance/privacy_policy",
+			"/api/v1/timelines/link?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.org%2F",
+			"/api/v1/accounts/000000000000000000000000/identity_proofs"
+		};
+
+		[Theory]
+		[MemberData(nameof(AnsweredRoutes))]
+		public async Task Mastodon_routes_we_have_nothing_behind_answer_instead_of_404(string path)
+		{
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await _client.Get(path)).Status);
+		}
+
+		[Fact]
+		public async Task Notification_policy_and_requests_answer_a_signed_in_reader()
+		{
+			var reader = await _host.Mastodon("policy");
+
+			Assert.Equal(HttpStatusCode.OK, (await reader.Client.Get("/api/v1/notifications/policy")).Status);
+			Assert.Equal("accept", (await reader.Client.Get("/api/v2/notifications/policy")).Ok().Body.Text("for_not_following"));
+			Assert.Empty((await reader.Client.Get("/api/v1/notifications/requests")).Ok().Array);
+		}
+	}
+}

PrivaPub.Tests/Http/WellKnownTests.cs

@@ -179,8 +179,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			return (await client.Fetch("/nodeinfo/2.1", "application/json")).Json["usage"]!["localPosts"]!.GetValue<long>();
 		}
 
+		// localPosts is Mastodon's: the sum of statuses_count, every local post but DMs and deleted ones, boosts included,
+		// and circle and located posts too (owner decision 2026-10-04)
 		[Fact]
-		public async Task Local_posts_count_only_what_anyone_may_see()
+		public async Task Local_posts_count_as_mastodon_counts_statuses()
 		{
 			var persona = await _host.Persona(await _host.SignUp(), "usage");
 			var friend = await _host.Persona(await _host.SignUp(), "usagefriend");
@@ -197,10 +199,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Tests.Http
 			await _host.Reblog(friend, shown);
 			var circle = await _host.FederatedGroup(persona, community: false);
 			await _host.Publish(persona, new StatusDraft { Text = "circle only", PlainText = true, GroupId = circle.Id });
-			Assert.Equal(start + 2, await LocalPosts());
+			Assert.Equal(start + 6, await LocalPosts());//followers-only, located, the boost and the circle post; not the DM nor the copy
 
 			await _host.Remove(persona, shown);
-			Assert.Equal(start + 1, await LocalPosts());
+			Assert.Equal(start + 4, await LocalPosts());//the post and the boost of it
 		}
 	}
 }

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Controllers/AccountsController.cs

@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 				avatar.Settings.IsDiscoverable = discoverable;
 			if (Params.Bool("indexable") is { } indexable)
 				avatar.Settings.IsIndexable = indexable;
-			if (Params.Bool("hide_collections") is { } hide)
-				avatar.Settings.HideCollections = hide;
+			// hide_collections stays true: who follows whom is never listed here, only counted (FEDERATION.md)
 			if (Params.Get("source[privacy]") is { } privacy && privacy is "public" or "unlisted" or "private")
 				avatar.Settings.DefaultVisibility = privacy;
 			if (Params.Bool("source[sensitive]") is { } sensitive)
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			}
 			var userName = parts[0];
 			var domain = parts[1].ToLowerInvariant();
-			var foreign = await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName == userName && f.Domain == domain).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+			var foreign = await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName == userName && f.Domain == domain && !f.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
 			return foreign == default ? NotFoundError() : Json(_mapper.Foreign(foreign));
 		}
 
@@ -197,8 +196,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			var (local, _) = await Find(id, token);
 			if (local == default || local.Id != MyId)
 				return Json(Array.Empty<Account>());
-			var followers = await _dbEntities.Followers.Match(f => f.LocalActorId == local.Id && f.LocalActorKind == local.Kind && f.IsAccepted)
-				.Sort(f => f.ID, Order.Descending).Limit(Limit(40, 80)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			var followers = await Page.From(Params, Limit(40, 80))
+				.Fetch(_dbEntities.Followers.Match(f => f.LocalActorId == local.Id && f.LocalActorKind == local.Kind && f.IsAccepted), f => f.ID, token);
+			Link($"/api/v1/accounts/{id}/followers", followers.LastOrDefault()?.ID, followers.FirstOrDefault()?.ID);
 			return Json(await AccountsFor(followers.Select(f => f.ActorURI), token));
 		}
 
@@ -208,8 +208,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			var (local, _) = await Find(id, token);
 			if (local == default || local.Id != MyId)
 				return Json(Array.Empty<Account>());
-			var following = await _dbEntities.Followings.Match(f => f.AvatarId == local.Id && f.State == FollowState.Accepted)
-				.Sort(f => f.ID, Order.Descending).Limit(Limit(40, 80)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			var following = await Page.From(Params, Limit(40, 80))
+				.Fetch(_dbEntities.Followings.Match(f => f.AvatarId == local.Id && f.State == FollowState.Accepted), f => f.ID, token);
+			Link($"/api/v1/accounts/{id}/following", following.LastOrDefault()?.ID, following.FirstOrDefault()?.ID);
 			var accounts = await _mapper.Accounts(following.Select(f => f.TargetAccountId), token);
 			return Json(following.Select(f => accounts.GetValueOrDefault(f.TargetAccountId)).Where(a => a != default).ToList());
 		}

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Controllers/InstanceController.cs

@@ -30,28 +30,50 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 
 		bool Open => _registrations.CurrentValue.IsOpen;
 
+		// the languages this server is set up for (AppConfiguration:SupportedLanguages), "en" when none are named
+		public static IReadOnlyList<string> LanguageCodes(IServiceProvider services)
+		{
+			var configured = services.GetRequiredService<Microsoft.Extensions.Options.IOptionsMonitor<Models.AppConfiguration>>().CurrentValue.SupportedLanguages;
+			var codes = (configured ?? new List<string>()).Where(c => !string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(c)).Select(c => c.Split('-')[0].ToLowerInvariant()).Distinct().ToList();
+			return codes.Count == 0 ? new[] { "en" } : codes;
+		}
+
 		string Domain => new Uri(_localActors.BaseAddress).Authority;
 
-		static object Statuses => new { max_characters = 5000, max_media_attachments = 4, characters_reserved_per_url = 23 };
+		// every limit is what the server enforces, read from where it is enforced
+		static object Statuses => new { max_characters = PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses.StatusService.MaxCharacters, max_media_attachments = 4, characters_reserved_per_url = 23 };
 
-		static object MediaAttachments => new
+		object MediaAttachments
 		{
-			supported_mime_types = new[] { "image/jpeg", "image/png", "image/gif", "image/webp", "video/mp4", "video/webm", "audio/mpeg", "audio/ogg" },
-			image_size_limit = 16 * 1024 * 1024,
-			image_matrix_limit = 16_777_216,
-			video_size_limit = 99 * 1024 * 1024,
-			video_frame_rate_limit = 60,
-			video_matrix_limit = 2_304_000
-		};
+			get
+			{
+				var media = HttpContext.RequestServices.GetRequiredService<IOptionsMonitor<PrivaPub.Domain.Media.MediaOptions>>().CurrentValue;
+				return new
+				{
+					supported_mime_types = PrivaPub.Domain.Media.MediaService.SupportedTypes,
+					image_size_limit = media.MaxImageBytes,
+					image_matrix_limit = media.MaxImageSide * media.MaxImageSide,
+					video_size_limit = media.MaxVideoBytes,
+					video_frame_rate_limit = 60,
+					video_matrix_limit = 2_304_000
+				};
+			}
+		}
 
-		static object Polls => new { max_options = 4, max_characters_per_option = 50, min_expiration = 300, max_expiration = 2_629_746 };
+		static object Polls => new
+		{
+			max_options = PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses.PollService.MaxOptions,
+			max_characters_per_option = PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses.PollService.MaxOptionLength,
+			min_expiration = PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses.PollService.MinExpiration,
+			max_expiration = PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses.PollService.MaxExpiration
+		};
 
 		[HttpGet("/api/v1/instance"), AllowAnonymous]
 		public async Task<IActionResult> V1(CancellationToken token)
 		{
-			var users = await DB.Default.CountAsync<Avatar>(a => !a.DeletionAt.HasValue, token);
-			var statuses = await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(f => f.Where(p => !p.IsFederatedCopy) & f.Where(VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic), token);
-			var domains = (await DB.Default.Find<ForeignAvatar, string>().Project(a => a.Domain).ExecuteAsync(token)).Distinct().Count();
+			var users = await Counted.Users(token);
+			var statuses = await Counted.LocalPosts(token);
+			var domains = await KnownServers(token);
 			return Json(new
 			{
 				uri = Domain,
@@ -60,10 +82,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 				description = Description,
 				email = string.Empty,
 				version = Version,
-				urls = new { streaming_api = $"wss://{Domain}" },
+				urls = new { },//no streaming API yet, so none is advertised
 				stats = new { user_count = users, status_count = statuses, domain_count = domains },
 				thumbnail = $"{_localActors.BaseAddress}/media/missing-header.png",
-				languages = new[] { "en" },
+				languages = LanguageCodes(HttpContext.RequestServices),
 				registrations = Open,
 				approval_required = false,
 				invites_enabled = true,//a group invitation always creates an account
@@ -73,8 +95,14 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			});
 		}
 
+		// the servers we have exchanged activities with, as the statistics count them. Which ones is not published
+		// (/instance/peers stays empty, as on a Mastodon with its peers API off): on a small server it would say who its
+		// personas talk to.
+		static async Task<long> KnownServers(CancellationToken token) =>
+			await DB.Default.CountAsync<Models.Jobs.RemoteInstance>(i => i.Seen == "touched", token);
+
 		[HttpGet("/api/v2/instance"), AllowAnonymous]
-		public IActionResult V2() => Json(new
+		public async Task<IActionResult> V2(CancellationToken token) => Json(new
 		{
 			domain = Domain,
 			title = "PrivaPub",
@@ -82,13 +110,13 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			api_versions = new { mastodon = 7 },
 			source_url = "https://git.thepra.dev/thepra/SocialPub",
 			description = Description,
-			usage = new { users = new { active_month = 0 } },
+			usage = new { users = new { active_month = await Counted.ActiveUsers(30, token) } },
 			thumbnail = new { url = $"{_localActors.BaseAddress}/media/missing-header.png" },
-			languages = new[] { "en" },
+			languages = LanguageCodes(HttpContext.RequestServices),
 			configuration = new
 			{
-				urls = new { streaming = $"wss://{Domain}" },
-				accounts = new { max_featured_tags = 0, max_pinned_statuses = 0 },
+				urls = new { },//no streaming API yet, so none is advertised
+				accounts = new { max_featured_tags = 0, max_pinned_statuses = StatusesController.MaxPins },
 				statuses = Statuses,
 				media_attachments = MediaAttachments,
 				polls = Polls,

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Controllers/SearchController.cs

@@ -35,11 +35,15 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			_search = search;
 		}
 
-		[HttpGet("/api/v2/search"), Scope("read:search", requiresUser: false)]
+		// Anyone may search, as on Mastodon; only resolving (which fetches from other servers) and paging need a sign-in.
+		[HttpGet("/api/v2/search"), Scope("read:search", requiresUser: false), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
 		public async Task<IActionResult> Search(CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var q = Params.Get("q")?.Trim();
 			var type = Params.Get("type");
+			var offset = Params.Int("offset") ?? 0;
+			if (MyId == default && (Params.Bool("resolve") == true || offset > 0))
+				return Error(StatusCodes.Status401Unauthorized, "Search queries that resolve uris or use offset require the read:search scope");
 			var resolve = Params.Bool("resolve") == true && MyId != default;
 			var results = new SearchResults();
 			if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(q))
@@ -66,7 +70,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 
 			if (type is null or "accounts")
 			{
-				results.Accounts = await _search.Find(q, resolve, Limit(), token);
+				results.Accounts = await _search.Find(q, resolve, Limit(), Math.Max(0, offset), token);
 			}
 			if (type is null or "hashtags" && q.TrimStart('#') is { Length: > 0 } tag)
 				results.Hashtags.Add(new { name = tag.ToLowerInvariant(), url = $"{_localActors.BaseAddress}/tags/{Uri.EscapeDataString(tag.ToLowerInvariant())}", history = Array.Empty<object>() });
@@ -133,5 +137,67 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 
 		[HttpGet("/api/v1/push/subscription"), Scope("push")]
 		public IActionResult PushSubscription() => Error(StatusCodes.Status404NotFound, "Record not found");
+
+		// Routes Mastodon answers that we have nothing behind: an empty or default answer lets clients degrade, where a
+		// 404 breaks some of them (Mastodon invariant 5)
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/directory"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult Directory() => Json(Array.Empty<object>());
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/timelines/link"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult LinkTimeline() => Json(Array.Empty<object>());
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/accounts/{id}/identity_proofs"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult IdentityProofs(string id) => Json(Array.Empty<object>());
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/tags/{name}"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult Tag(string name)
+		{
+			var tag = name?.TrimStart('#').ToLowerInvariant() ?? string.Empty;
+			var baseAddress = HttpContext.RequestServices.GetRequiredService<Federation.Actors.ILocalActorService>().BaseAddress;
+			return Json(new { name = tag, url = $"{baseAddress}/tags/{Uri.EscapeDataString(tag)}", history = Array.Empty<object>(), following = false });
+		}
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/instance/languages"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult Languages() => Json(InstanceController.LanguageCodes(HttpContext.RequestServices)
+			.Select(code => new { code, name = System.Globalization.CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo(code).EnglishName }));
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/instance/translation_languages"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult TranslationLanguages() => Json(new { });
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/instance/domain_blocks"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult InstanceDomainBlocks() => Json(Array.Empty<object>());
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/instance/privacy_policy"), Microsoft.AspNetCore.Authorization.AllowAnonymous]
+		public IActionResult PrivacyPolicy() => Json(new
+		{
+			updated_at = "2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z",
+			content = "<p>One private login owns several public personas, and nobody but this server's admin can tell they belong "
+				+ "together. What a persona posts is shared as its visibility says; a located post never leaves this server. "
+				+ "Uploads lose their metadata. Statistics name servers, never people: see /stargazing.</p>"
+		});
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/notifications/policy"), Scope("read:notifications")]
+		public IActionResult NotificationPolicyV1() => Json(new
+		{
+			filter_not_following = false,
+			filter_not_followers = false,
+			filter_new_accounts = false,
+			filter_private_mentions = false,
+			summary = new { pending_requests_count = 0, pending_notifications_count = 0 }
+		});
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v2/notifications/policy"), Scope("read:notifications")]
+		public IActionResult NotificationPolicyV2() => Json(new
+		{
+			for_not_following = "accept",
+			for_not_followers = "accept",
+			for_new_accounts = "accept",
+			for_private_mentions = "accept",
+			for_limited_accounts = "accept",
+			summary = new { pending_requests_count = 0, pending_notifications_count = 0 }
+		});
+
+		[HttpGet("/api/v1/notifications/requests"), Scope("read:notifications")]
+		public IActionResult NotificationRequests() => Json(Array.Empty<object>());
 	}
 }

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Controllers/TimelinesController.cs

@@ -216,9 +216,15 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Controllers
 			return Json(new { });
 		}
 
+		// counts what the list would show (Map drops notifications from gone accounts and about hidden posts), at most
+		// `limit` of them, as Mastodon does
 		[HttpGet("/api/v1/notifications/unread_count"), Scope("read:notifications")]
-		public async Task<IActionResult> UnreadCount(CancellationToken token) =>
-			Json(new { count = await DB.Default.CountAsync<NotificationEntity>(n => n.AvatarId == MyId && !n.IsRead, token) });
+		public async Task<IActionResult> UnreadCount(CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var unread = await DB.Default.Find<NotificationEntity>().Match(n => n.AvatarId == MyId && !n.IsRead)
+				.Sort(n => n.ID, Order.Descending).Limit(Math.Clamp(Params.Int("limit") ?? 100, 1, 1000)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			return Json(new { count = (await Map(unread, token)).Count });
+		}
 
 		async Task<List<Entities.Notification>> Map(List<NotificationEntity> notifications, CancellationToken token)
 		{

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Mappers/AccountSearch.cs

@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Mappers
 			_remoteActors = remoteActors;
 		}
 
-		public async Task<List<Account>> Find(string q, bool resolve, int limit, CancellationToken token)
+		public async Task<List<Account>> Find(string q, bool resolve, int limit, CancellationToken token) => await Find(q, resolve, limit, 0, token);
+
+		// gone accounts (remote ones that deleted themselves, personas of banned or deleted roots) are never found
+		public async Task<List<Account>> Find(string q, bool resolve, int limit, int offset, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			q = q?.Trim().TrimStart('@');
 			if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(q))
@@ -31,24 +34,31 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Mappers
 			{
 				var userName = parts[0];
 				var domain = parts[1].ToLowerInvariant();
-				var known = await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName == userName && f.Domain == domain).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+				var known = await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName == userName && f.Domain == domain && !f.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
 				if (known == default && resolve)
 				{
 					var actorUri = await _remoteActors.ResolveHandle(q, token);
 					known = actorUri == default ? default : await _remoteActors.GetActor(actorUri, refresh: false, token);
 				}
-				if (known != default)
+				if (known is { DeletionAt: null } && offset == 0)
 					results.Add(_mapper.Foreign(known));
 				return results;
 			}
 
 			var prefix = parts[0].ToLowerInvariant();
-			foreach (var avatar in await _dbEntities.Avatars.Match(a => a.UserName.StartsWith(prefix) && !a.DeletionAt.HasValue && a.Settings.IsDiscoverable != false)
-				.Limit(limit).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			var barred = await Domain.Privacy.Counted.BarredPersonas(token);
+			var locals = await _dbEntities.Avatars
+				.Match(a => a.UserName.StartsWith(prefix) && !a.DeletionAt.HasValue && a.Settings.IsDiscoverable != false && !barred.Contains(a.ID))
+				.Sort(a => a.UserName, MongoDB.Entities.Order.Ascending)
+				.Limit(offset + limit).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			foreach (var avatar in locals.Skip(offset))
 				results.Add(await _mapper.Local(_localActors.FromAvatar(avatar), false, token));
-			foreach (var foreign in await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName.StartsWith(parts[0]) && f.IsDiscoverable)
-				.Limit(Math.Max(0, limit - results.Count)).ExecuteAsync(token))
-				results.Add(_mapper.Foreign(foreign));
+			var skipRemote = Math.Max(0, offset - locals.Count);
+			if (results.Count < limit)
+				foreach (var foreign in await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => f.UserName.StartsWith(parts[0]) && f.IsDiscoverable && !f.DeletionAt.HasValue)
+					.Sort(f => f.UserName, MongoDB.Entities.Order.Ascending)
+					.Skip(skipRemote).Limit(limit - results.Count).ExecuteAsync(token))
+					results.Add(_mapper.Foreign(foreign));
 			return results;
 		}
 	}

PrivaPub/Api/Mastodon/Mappers/MastodonMapper.cs

@@ -50,15 +50,11 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Mappers
 				? await DB.Default.CountAsync<Following>(f => f.AvatarId == actor.Id && f.State == FollowState.Accepted, token)
 				: 0;
 			var latest = await _dbEntities.Posts
-				.Match(p => (actor.Kind == LocalActorKind.Group ? p.GroupId == actor.Id : p.GroupUserId == actor.Id) && !p.IsFederatedCopy
-					&& !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && p.Visibility != PostVisibility.Direct && p.ReblogOfPostId == null)
+				.Match(Counted.By(actor))
 				.Sort(p => p.ID, Order.Descending)
 				.Limit(1)
 				.ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
-			var statuses = latest == default
-				? 0
-				: await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(p => (actor.Kind == LocalActorKind.Group ? p.GroupId == actor.Id : p.GroupUserId == actor.Id)
-					&& !p.IsFederatedCopy && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && p.Visibility != PostVisibility.Direct && p.ReblogOfPostId == null, token);
+			var statuses = latest == default ? 0 : await Counted.PostsBy(actor, token);
 
 			var account = new Account
 			{
@@ -71,7 +67,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Mappers
 				Discoverable = actor.Discoverable,
 				Indexable = actor.Indexable,
 				Noindex = !actor.Indexable,
-				HideCollections = actor.Settings.HideCollections,
+				HideCollections = true,//follower and following lists are never shown to others, only their counts
 				Group = actor.Kind == LocalActorKind.Group,
 				CreatedAt = MastodonJson.Day(actor.Published),
 				Note = ActivityPubRenderer.Html(actor.Summary),
@@ -141,7 +137,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Api.Mastodon.Mappers
 				accounts[avatar.ID] = await Local(_localActors.FromAvatar(avatar), false, token);
 			foreach (var group in await _dbEntities.Groups.Match(g => wanted.Contains(g.ID) && !g.DeletionAt.HasValue && g.Kind == GroupKind.Community).ExecuteAsync(token))
 				accounts[group.ID] = await Local(_localActors.FromGroup(group), false, token);
-			foreach (var foreign in await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => wanted.Contains(f.ID)).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			foreach (var foreign in await _dbEntities.ForeignAvatars.Match(f => wanted.Contains(f.ID) && !f.DeletionAt.HasValue).ExecuteAsync(token))
 				accounts[foreign.ID] = Foreign(foreign);
 			return accounts;
 		}

PrivaPub/Domain/Media/MediaService.cs

@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Media
 			["audio/mp4"] = "m4a", ["audio/x-m4a"] = "m4a", ["audio/flac"] = "flac", ["audio/webm"] = "webm"
 		};
 
+		// what an upload may be, as the instance API advertises it
+		public static IReadOnlyList<string> SupportedTypes => ImageTypes.Concat(AvTypes.Keys).ToList();
+
 		readonly IOptionsMonitor<MediaOptions> _options;
 		readonly ILocalActorService _localActors;
 		readonly IWebHostEnvironment _environment;

PrivaPub/Domain/Privacy/Counted.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Federation.Actors;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Federation;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Post;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+
+using System.Linq.Expressions;
+
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Privacy
+{
+	// What the numbers count, in one place, so a persona's statuses_count, its outbox's totalItems, NodeInfo and the
+	// instance API agree (they used to count four different things).
+	public static class Counted
+	{
+		// Mastodon's statuses_count: every post that is neither deleted nor a direct message, reblogs included. Circle and
+		// located posts count too (owner decision 2026-10-04: "a good balance for the fediverse to work").
+		public static readonly Expression<Func<PostEntity, bool>> Post = p => !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && p.Visibility != PostVisibility.Direct;
+
+		// a persona's own posts, or every post in a group, its remote members' included
+		public static Expression<Func<PostEntity, bool>> By(LocalActor actor)
+		{
+			var id = actor.Id;
+			return actor.Kind == LocalActorKind.Group
+				? p => p.GroupId == id && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && p.Visibility != PostVisibility.Direct
+				: p => p.GroupUserId == id && !p.IsFederatedCopy && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && p.Visibility != PostVisibility.Direct;
+		}
+
+		// replies_count counts only public and unlisted replies, as Mastodon does: a count must not tell anyone that a
+		// followers-only, direct or circle reply exists
+		public static bool Reply(PostEntity reply) => reply.Visibility is PostVisibility.Public or PostVisibility.Unlisted;
+
+		public static async Task<long> PostsBy(LocalActor actor, CancellationToken token) =>
+			await DB.Default.CountAsync(By(actor), token);
+
+		// Personas that do not count as this server's users, and are not found in search: those of a banned or deleted root.
+		public static async Task<List<string>> BarredPersonas(CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var roots = (await DB.Default.Find<RootUser>().Match(u => u.IsBanned || u.DeletedAt != null).Project(u => u.Include(x => x.ID)).ExecuteAsync(token))
+				.Select(u => u.ID).ToList();
+			return roots.Count == 0
+				? new List<string>()
+				: (await DB.Default.Find<RootToAvatar>().Match(ra => roots.Contains(ra.RootId)).ExecuteAsync(token)).Select(ra => ra.AvatarId).ToList();
+		}
+
+		public static async Task<long> Users(CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var barred = await BarredPersonas(token);
+			return await DB.Default.CountAsync<Avatar>(a => !a.DeletionAt.HasValue && !barred.Contains(a.ID), token);
+		}
+
+		// users who posted within the last days, as NodeInfo's activeMonth and activeHalfyear and the instance API mean it
+		public static async Task<long> ActiveUsers(int days, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var barred = await BarredPersonas(token);
+			var since = DateTime.UtcNow.AddDays(-days);
+			var authors = await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity, string>()
+				.Match(p => !p.IsFederatedCopy && p.CreationDate >= since && !barred.Contains(p.GroupUserId))
+				.Project(p => p.GroupUserId)
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
+			var distinct = authors.Where(a => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(a)).Distinct().ToList();
+			return distinct.Count == 0 ? 0 : await DB.Default.CountAsync<Avatar>(a => distinct.Contains(a.ID) && !a.DeletionAt.HasValue, token);
+		}
+
+		public static async Task<long> LocalPosts(CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var barred = await BarredPersonas(token);
+			return await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(f => f.Where(p => !p.IsFederatedCopy && !barred.Contains(p.GroupUserId)) & f.Where(Post), token);
+		}
+	}
+}

PrivaPub/Domain/Statuses/StatusService.cs

@@ -95,8 +95,17 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses
 			_fanout = fanout;
 		}
 
+		public const int MaxCharacters = 5000;//what the instance API advertises as max_characters, and enforced here
+
+		static StatusOutcome TooLong(StatusDraft draft) =>
+			(draft.Text?.Length ?? 0) > MaxCharacters
+				? StatusOutcome.Fail(StatusCodes.Status422UnprocessableEntity, $"Validation failed: Text character limit of {MaxCharacters} exceeded")
+				: default;
+
 		public async Task<StatusOutcome> Publish(LocalActor author, StatusDraft draft, CancellationToken token)
 		{
+			if (TooLong(draft) is { } tooLong)
+				return tooLong;
 			var media = await Media(author, draft.MediaIds, default, token);
 			if (media == default)
 				return StatusOutcome.Fail(StatusCodes.Status422UnprocessableEntity, "Validation failed: Media attachments are invalid");
@@ -239,7 +248,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses
 
 			await DB.Default.SaveAsync(post, token);
 			await Attach(media, post.ID, token);
-			if (parent != default)
+			if (parent != default && Counted.Reply(post))
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(parent.ID).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.RepliesCount, 1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
 			await _fanout.Distribute(post, token);
 			await _polls.Scheduled(post, token);
@@ -260,6 +269,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses
 			var post = await Own(author, postId, token);
 			if (post == default)
 				return StatusOutcome.Fail(StatusCodes.Status404NotFound, "Record not found");
+			if (TooLong(draft) is { } tooLong)
+				return tooLong;
 			var media = draft.MediaIds == default ? default : await Media(author, draft.MediaIds, post.ID, token);
 			if (draft.MediaIds != default && media == default)
 				return StatusOutcome.Fail(StatusCodes.Status422UnprocessableEntity, "Validation failed: Media attachments are invalid");
@@ -342,8 +353,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Domain.Statuses
 				.Modify(p => p.Revisions, new List<PostRevision>())
 				.ExecuteAsync(token);
 			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<TimelineEntry>(e => e.PostId == post.ID || e.ReblogOfPostId == post.ID);
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.AnsweringToPostId))
+			// boosts of it end with it, as on Mastodon, so no count keeps them
+			await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().Match(p => p.ReblogOfPostId == post.ID && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue)
+				.Modify(p => p.DeletedAt, DateTime.UtcNow).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.AnsweringToPostId) && Counted.Reply(post))
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.AnsweringToPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.RepliesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Models.Social.Pin>(p => p.PostId == post.ID);//a deleted post no longer takes a pin
 			if (audience.Count > 0)
 			{
 				var delete = ActivityPubRenderer.Delete(author, post.ObjectURI, $"delete-{post.ID}",

PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/PeasantsController.cs

@@ -84,9 +84,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 
 			if (!page)
 			{
-				var total = local.Kind == LocalActorKind.Group
-					? await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(f => f.Where(p => p.GroupId == local.Id) & f.Where(VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic), token)
-					: await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(f => f.Where(p => p.GroupUserId == local.Id && !p.IsFederatedCopy) & f.Where(VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic), token);
+				// as Mastodon's: statuses_count, though only public posts are listed
+				var total = await Counted.PostsBy(local, token);
 				return Activity(ActivityPubRenderer.OrderedCollection(local.Outbox, (int)total, default, $"{local.Outbox}?page=true"));
 			}
 
@@ -137,7 +136,13 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 		public async Task<IActionResult> Following(string actor, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var local = await _localActors.FindByUserName(actor, token);
-			return local is not { IsFederated: true } ? NotFound() : Activity(ActivityPubRenderer.OrderedCollection(local.Following, 0, default));
+			if (local is not { IsFederated: true })
+				return NotFound();
+			// the count, as following_count says it; who is followed is never listed (FEDERATION.md)
+			var following = local.Kind == LocalActorKind.Person
+				? await DB.Default.CountAsync<Following>(f => f.AvatarId == local.Id && f.State == FollowState.Accepted, token)
+				: 0;
+			return Activity(ActivityPubRenderer.OrderedCollection(local.Following, (int)following, default));
 		}
 
 		[HttpGet, Route("{actor}/flock")]

PrivaPub/Federation/Controllers/WellKnownController.cs

@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 		[HttpGet, Route("/nodeinfo/{version:regex(^2\\.[[01]]$)}")]
 		public async Task<IActionResult> NodeInfo(string version, CancellationToken token)
 		{
-			var users = await DB.Default.CountAsync<Avatar>(a => !a.DeletionAt.HasValue, token);
-			var posts = await DB.Default.CountAsync<PostEntity>(f => f.Where(p => !p.IsFederatedCopy && p.ReblogOfPostId == null) & f.Where(VisibilityPolicy.IsPublic), token);
+			var users = await Counted.Users(token);
+			var posts = await Counted.LocalPosts(token);
 			var software = new JsonObject { ["name"] = "privapub", ["version"] = BuildInfo.Ref };
 			if (version == "2.1")
 			{
@@ -111,7 +111,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Controllers
 				["openRegistrations"] = _registrations.CurrentValue.IsOpen,
 				["usage"] = new JsonObject
 				{
-					["users"] = new JsonObject { ["total"] = users },
+					["users"] = new JsonObject
+					{
+						["total"] = users,
+						["activeMonth"] = await Counted.ActiveUsers(30, token),
+						["activeHalfyear"] = await Counted.ActiveUsers(180, token)
+					},
 					["localPosts"] = posts
 				},
 				["metadata"] = new JsonObject

PrivaPub/Federation/Inbox/GoneActors.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Domain.Privacy;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Post;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Social;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Inbox
+{
+	// A remote account that deleted itself keeps its posts, hidden (owner decision 2026-10-03), but leaves nothing in our
+	// numbers: its likes, downvotes, reactions and poll votes go, and the counters they had moved come back, as do the
+	// reblog, reply and quote counts its own posts had added. Its notifications go too. ForgottenAt makes it run once.
+	public static class GoneActors
+	{
+		public static async Task Forget(ForeignAvatar actor, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			if (actor == default || actor.ForgottenAt.HasValue)
+				return;
+			var uri = actor.ActorURI;
+
+			foreach (var like in await DB.Default.Find<Favourite>().Match(f => f.ActorURI == uri).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			{
+				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(like.PostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.FavouritesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Favourite>(like.ID);
+			}
+			foreach (var down in await DB.Default.Find<Downvote>().Match(d => d.ActorURI == uri).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			{
+				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(down.PostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.DownvotesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Downvote>(down.ID);
+			}
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Reaction>(r => r.ActorURI == uri);
+			foreach (var ballot in (await DB.Default.Find<PollVote>().Match(v => v.ActorURI == uri).ExecuteAsync(token)).GroupBy(v => v.PostId))
+			{
+				var poll = await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity>().MatchID(ballot.Key).ExecuteFirstAsync(token);
+				if (poll?.Poll != default)
+				{
+					var update = DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(poll.ID);
+					foreach (var vote in ballot.Where(v => v.Choice >= 0 && v.Choice < poll.Poll.Options.Count))
+						update = update.Modify(b => b.Inc($"{nameof(PostEntity.Poll)}.{nameof(PostPoll.Options)}.{vote.Choice}.{nameof(PollOption.Votes)}", -1));
+					if (poll.Poll.VotersCount.HasValue)
+						update = update.Modify(b => b.Inc($"{nameof(PostEntity.Poll)}.{nameof(PostPoll.VotersCount)}", -1));
+					await update.ExecuteAsync(token);
+				}
+				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<PollVote>(v => v.PostId == ballot.Key && v.ActorURI == uri);
+			}
+
+			foreach (var post in await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity>().Match(p => p.ActorURI == uri && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue).ExecuteAsync(token))
+			{
+				if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.ReblogOfPostId))
+					await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.ReblogOfPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.ReblogsCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.AnsweringToPostId) && Counted.Reply(post))
+					await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.AnsweringToPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.RepliesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.QuotedPostId) && post.QuoteState == QuoteState.Accepted)
+					await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.QuotedPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.QuotesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			}
+
+			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Notification>(n => n.FromActorURI == uri);
+			await DB.Default.Update<ForeignAvatar>().MatchID(actor.ID).Modify(a => a.ForgottenAt, DateTime.UtcNow).ExecuteAsync(token);
+		}
+	}
+}

PrivaPub/Federation/Inbox/Handlers/CreateHandler.cs

@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Inbox.Handlers
 			await _previews.Wanted(post, token);
 			await _quotes.Resolve(post, note, token);
 
-			if (parent != default)
+			if (parent != default && Domain.Privacy.Counted.Reply(post))
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(parent.ID).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.RepliesCount, 1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
 			await _fanout.Distribute(post, token);
 			if (conversation != default)

PrivaPub/Federation/Inbox/Handlers/DeleteHandler.cs

@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Inbox.Handlers
 				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Following>(f => f.TargetActorURI == actor.ActorURI);
 				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<TimelineEntry>(e => e.AuthorAccountId == actor.ID);
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().Match(p => p.ActorURI == actor.ActorURI).Modify(p => p.AuthorGone, true).ExecuteAsync(token);
+				await GoneActors.Forget(actor, token);
 				return;
 			}
 

PrivaPub/Federation/Inbox/RemoteEdits.cs

@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Federation.Inbox
 			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<ObjectRecord>(r => r.PostId == post.ID || r.ObjectURI == objectUri);
 			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<TimelineEntry>(e => e.PostId == post.ID || e.ReblogOfPostId == post.ID);
 			await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<PostEntity>(p => p.ReblogOfPostId == post.ID);
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.AnsweringToPostId))
+			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.AnsweringToPostId) && Domain.Privacy.Counted.Reply(post))
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.AnsweringToPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.RepliesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);
 			if (post.QuoteState == QuoteState.Accepted && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(post.QuotedPostId))
 				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.QuotedPostId).Modify(b => b.Inc(p => p.QuotesCount, -1)).ExecuteAsync(token);

PrivaPub/Infrastructure/Data/Migrations/_012_counts_follow_one_rule.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+using MongoDB.Driver;
+using MongoDB.Entities;
+
+using PrivaPub.Federation.Inbox;
+using PrivaPub.Models.Post;
+using PrivaPub.Models.User;
+
+using PostEntity = PrivaPub.Models.Post.Post;
+
+namespace PrivaPub.Infrastructure.Data.Migrations
+{
+	// replies_count now counts only public and unlisted replies, and accounts that deleted themselves leave nothing in the
+	// counts (GoneActors). Both are recounted once for what was stored before.
+	public class _012_counts_follow_one_rule : IMigration
+	{
+		public async Task UpgradeAsync()
+		{
+			var counted = (await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity, string>()
+					.Match(p => p.AnsweringToPostId != null && !p.DeletedAt.HasValue && !p.AuthorGone
+						&& (p.Visibility == PostVisibility.Public || p.Visibility == PostVisibility.Unlisted))
+					.Project(p => p.AnsweringToPostId)
+					.ExecuteAsync())
+				.GroupBy(id => id)
+				.ToDictionary(g => g.Key, g => g.Count());
+			var stale = await DB.Default.Find<PostEntity>().Match(p => p.RepliesCount > 0).Project(p => p.Include(x => x.ID).Include(x => x.RepliesCount)).ExecuteAsync();
+			foreach (var post in stale.Where(p => counted.GetValueOrDefault(p.ID) != p.RepliesCount))
+				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(post.ID).Modify(p => p.RepliesCount, counted.GetValueOrDefault(post.ID)).ExecuteAsync();
+			foreach (var (id, count) in counted.Where(c => stale.All(p => p.ID != c.Key)))
+				await DB.Default.Update<PostEntity>().MatchID(id).Modify(p => p.RepliesCount, count).ExecuteAsync();
+
+			foreach (var gone in await DB.Default.Find<ForeignAvatar>().Match(a => a.DeletionAt != null && a.ForgottenAt == null).ExecuteAsync())
+				await GoneActors.Forget(gone, CancellationToken.None);
+		}
+	}
+}

PrivaPub/Models/User/Avatar.cs

@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Models.User
 		public DateTime? SuspendedAt { get; set; }
 		public DateTime? BannedAt { get; set; }
 		public DateTime? DeletionAt { get; set; }
+		public DateTime? ForgottenAt { get; set; }//its likes, votes, boosts and replies were taken out of our counts (GoneActors)
 	}
 
 	public class AvatarSettings

PrivaPub/Models/User/RootUser.cs

@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Models.User
 		public DateTime CreatedAt { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 		public DateTime UpdatedAt { get; set; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 		public DateTime? DeletedAt { get; set; }
-		public DateTime? CredentialsChangedAt { get; set; }//a /clientapi token issued before this is refused (JwtEvents)
+		public DateTime? CredentialsChangedAt { get; set; }//when RootSessions last ended every session
+		public string SessionStamp { get; set; }//carried by every /clientapi token; a new one ends the tokens issued before
 	}
 
 	public class ContactItem

PrivaPub/Services/GroupUsersService.cs

@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 					group.UpdatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow;
 					await DB.Default.SaveAsync(group, token);
 				}
+				await FollowAsMember(group, form.AvatarId, token);
 
 				result.Data = ToView(group, form.AvatarId);
 				return result;
@@ -221,6 +222,33 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 			}
 		}
 
+		// Joining by invitation is following, as a local follow of the group would be: the member counts among its
+		// followers (so /groupies and /flock agree) and gets its posts in the home timeline.
+		async Task FollowAsMember(GroupEntity group, string avatarId, CancellationToken token)
+		{
+			var persona = await _localActors.FindById(LocalActorKind.Person, avatarId, token);
+			var target = _localActors.FromGroup(group);
+			if (persona == default)
+				return;
+			await DB.Default.Update<Follower>()
+				.Match(f => f.LocalActorId == group.ID && f.LocalActorKind == LocalActorKind.Group && f.ActorURI == persona.Uri)
+				.Modify(f => f.InboxURL, persona.Inbox)
+				.Modify(f => f.SharedInboxURL, persona.SharedInbox)
+				.Modify(f => f.IsAccepted, true)
+				.Modify(b => b.SetOnInsert(f => f.CreationDate, DateTime.UtcNow))
+				.Option(o => o.IsUpsert = true)
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
+			await DB.Default.Update<Models.Social.Following>()
+				.Match(f => f.AvatarId == persona.Id && f.TargetActorURI == target.Uri)
+				.Modify(f => f.TargetAccountId, group.ID)
+				.Modify(f => f.TargetIsLocal, true)
+				.Modify(f => f.TargetInboxURL, target.Inbox)
+				.Modify(f => f.State, Models.Social.FollowState.Accepted)
+				.Modify(b => b.SetOnInsert(f => f.CreatedAt, DateTime.UtcNow))
+				.Option(o => o.IsUpsert = true)
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
+		}
+
 		public async Task<WebResult> LeaveGroup(string rootUserId, GroupMembershipForm form, CancellationToken token)
 		{
 			var result = new WebResult();
@@ -238,6 +266,12 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 				group.Members.RemoveAll(m => !m.IsForeign && m.AvatarId == form.AvatarId);
 				group.UpdatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow;
 				await DB.Default.SaveAsync(group, token);
+				// leaving is unfollowing, as joining was following
+				var groupUri = _localActors.FromGroup(group).Uri;
+				var personaUri = (await _localActors.FindById(LocalActorKind.Person, form.AvatarId, token))?.Uri;
+				await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Models.Social.Following>(f => f.AvatarId == form.AvatarId && f.TargetActorURI == groupUri);
+				if (personaUri != default)
+					await DB.Default.DeleteAsync<Follower>(f => f.LocalActorId == group.ID && f.LocalActorKind == LocalActorKind.Group && f.ActorURI == personaUri);
 				return result;
 			}
 			catch (Exception ex)

PrivaPub/Services/JwtEvents.cs

@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 				context.Fail("The account can no longer be used.");
 				return;
 			}
-			// a password recovery ends every session made before it (RootSessions)
-			if (root.CredentialsChangedAt is { } changed && context.SecurityToken.ValidFrom < changed.AddSeconds(-1))
+			// a password recovery ends every session made before it (RootSessions gives the root a new stamp)
+			if ((root.SessionStamp ?? string.Empty) != (context.Principal.FindFirst(AuthTokenManager.SessionStamp)?.Value ?? string.Empty))
 			{
-				context.Fail("The account's password was changed.");
+				context.Fail("The account's sessions were ended.");
 				return;
 			}
 			if (context.Principal.Identity is not ClaimsIdentity identity)

PrivaPub/Services/RootSessions.cs

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 		Task Revoke(string rootId, CancellationToken token);
 	}
 
-	// Ends everything a root is signed in with: its /clientapi tokens, through CredentialsChangedAt (checked by JwtEvents),
+	// Ends everything a root is signed in with: its /clientapi tokens, through a new SessionStamp (checked by JwtEvents),
 	// and the Mastodon API tokens and authorizations of each of its personas. Used when its password is recovered and when
 	// it is deleted.
 	public class RootSessions : IRootSessions
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ namespace PrivaPub.Services
 
 		public async Task Revoke(string rootId, CancellationToken token)
 		{
-			await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>().MatchID(rootId).Modify(u => u.CredentialsChangedAt, DateTime.UtcNow).ExecuteAsync(token);
+			await DB.Default.Update<RootUser>().MatchID(rootId)
+				.Modify(u => u.CredentialsChangedAt, DateTime.UtcNow)
+				.Modify(u => u.SessionStamp, Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"))
+				.ExecuteAsync(token);
 			foreach (var link in await _dbEntities.RootToAvatars.Match(ra => ra.RootId == rootId).ExecuteAsync(token))
 			{
 				await _tokens.RevokeBySubjectAsync(link.AvatarId, token);

PrivaPub/StaticServices/AuthTokenManager.cs

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ namespace PrivaPub.StaticServices
 {
 	public class AuthTokenManager
 	{
+		public const string SessionStamp = "ss";
+		const string SessionStampClaim = SessionStamp;//the root's RootUser.SessionStamp when issued; JwtEvents refuses a stale one
+
 		readonly IConfiguration Configuration;
 
 		public AuthTokenManager(IConfiguration configuration)
@@ -35,7 +38,8 @@ namespace PrivaPub.StaticServices
 			var claims = new List<Claim>
 			{
 				new(ClaimTypes.UserData, user.ID),
-				new(ClaimTypes.Name, user.UserName)
+				new(ClaimTypes.Name, user.UserName),
+				new(SessionStampClaim, user.SessionStamp ?? string.Empty)
 			};
 
 			claims.Add(new(Policies.IsUser, $"{user.Policies.Contains(Policies.IsUser)}".ToLower()));
@@ -44,7 +48,7 @@ namespace PrivaPub.StaticServices
 
 			var token = new JwtSecurityToken(issuer: Configuration["AppConfiguration:Jwt:Issuer"], audience: Configuration["AppConfiguration:Jwt:Audience"],
 					claims: claims,
-					notBefore: DateTime.UtcNow,//its issue time, which JwtEvents compares with RootUser.CredentialsChangedAt
+					notBefore: DateTime.UtcNow,
 					expires: expiration,
 					signingCredentials: new(securityKey, SecurityAlgorithms.HmacSha512)
 			);