diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/followers.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/followers.go
index 9ccf9c4d5..6e33407d0 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/followers.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/followers.go
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // FollowersGETHandler returns a collection of URIs for followers of the target user, formatted so that other AP servers can understand it.
@@ -46,9 +48,14 @@ func (m *Module) FollowersGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	l.Tracef("negotiated format: %s", format)
 
-	// make a copy of the context to pass along so we don't break anything
-	cp := c.Copy()
-	user, err := m.processor.GetFediFollowers(requestedUsername, cp.Request) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	user, err := m.processor.GetFediFollowers(ctx, requestedUsername, c.Request.URL) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Info(err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/following.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/following.go
index f19965c26..bdf815b05 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/following.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/following.go
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // FollowingGETHandler returns a collection of URIs for accounts that the target user follows, formatted so that other AP servers can understand it.
@@ -46,9 +48,14 @@ func (m *Module) FollowingGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	l.Tracef("negotiated format: %s", format)
 
-	// make a copy of the context to pass along so we don't break anything
-	cp := c.Copy()
-	user, err := m.processor.GetFediFollowing(requestedUsername, cp.Request) // handles auth as well
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	user, err := m.processor.GetFediFollowing(ctx, requestedUsername, c.Request.URL) // handles auth as well
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Info(err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost.go
index a51cd8add..98442af13 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/inboxpost.go
@@ -19,11 +19,13 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtserror"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // InboxPOSTHandler deals with incoming POST requests to an actor's inbox.
@@ -40,7 +42,14 @@ func (m *Module) InboxPOSTHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	posted, err := m.processor.InboxPost(c.Request.Context(), c.Writer, c.Request)
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	posted, err := m.processor.InboxPost(ctx, c.Writer, c.Request)
 	if err != nil {
 		if withCode, ok := err.(gtserror.WithCode); ok {
 			l.Debug(withCode.Error())
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/publickeyget.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/publickeyget.go
index b6aadedb2..bb1844e0e 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/publickeyget.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/publickeyget.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // PublicKeyGETHandler should be served at eg https://example.org/users/:username/main-key.
@@ -32,9 +34,14 @@ func (m *Module) PublicKeyGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	l.Tracef("negotiated format: %s", format)
 
-	// make a copy of the context to pass along so we don't break anything
-	cp := c.Copy()
-	user, err := m.processor.GetFediUser(requestedUsername, cp.Request) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	user, err := m.processor.GetFediUser(ctx, requestedUsername, c.Request.URL) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Info(err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/statusget.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/statusget.go
index 22774ae2c..37621d1de 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/statusget.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/statusget.go
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // StatusGETHandler serves the target status as an activitystreams NOTE so that other AP servers can parse it.
@@ -34,9 +36,14 @@ func (m *Module) StatusGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	l.Tracef("negotiated format: %s", format)
 
-	// make a copy of the context to pass along so we don't break anything
-	cp := c.Copy()
-	status, err := m.processor.GetFediStatus(requestedUsername, requestedStatusID, cp.Request) // handles auth as well
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	status, err := m.processor.GetFediStatus(ctx, requestedUsername, requestedStatusID, c.Request.URL) // handles auth as well
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Info(err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/user/userget.go b/internal/api/s2s/user/userget.go
index 9d268e121..ac49b1529 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/user/userget.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/user/userget.go
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // UsersGETHandler should be served at https://example.org/users/:username.
@@ -54,9 +56,14 @@ func (m *Module) UsersGETHandler(c *gin.Context) {
 	}
 	l.Tracef("negotiated format: %s", format)
 
-	// make a copy of the context to pass along so we don't break anything
-	cp := c.Copy()
-	user, err := m.processor.GetFediUser(requestedUsername, cp.Request) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	user, err := m.processor.GetFediUser(ctx, requestedUsername, c.Request.URL) // GetFediUser handles auth as well
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Info(err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/s2s/webfinger/webfingerget.go b/internal/api/s2s/webfinger/webfingerget.go
index 30e089162..416a75f3b 100644
--- a/internal/api/s2s/webfinger/webfingerget.go
+++ b/internal/api/s2s/webfinger/webfingerget.go
@@ -19,12 +19,14 @@
 package webfinger
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 // WebfingerGETRequest handles requests to, for example, https://example.org/.well-known/webfinger?resource=acct:some_user@example.org
@@ -68,7 +70,14 @@ func (m *Module) WebfingerGETRequest(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	resp, err := m.processor.GetWebfingerAccount(username, c.Request)
+	// transfer the signature verifier from the gin context to the request context
+	ctx := c.Request.Context()
+	verifier, signed := c.Get(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier))
+	if signed {
+		ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier, verifier)
+	}
+
+	resp, err := m.processor.GetWebfingerAccount(ctx, username, c.Request.URL)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Debugf("aborting request with an error: %s", err.Error())
 		c.JSON(err.Code(), gin.H{"error": err.Safe()})
diff --git a/internal/api/security/security.go b/internal/api/security/security.go
index 7298bc7cb..d8f6b0fe3 100644
--- a/internal/api/security/security.go
+++ b/internal/api/security/security.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/api"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/config"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/router"
 )
 
@@ -33,18 +34,21 @@ const robotsPath = "/robots.txt"
 type Module struct {
 	config *config.Config
 	log    *logrus.Logger
+	db     db.DB
 }
 
 // New returns a new security module
-func New(config *config.Config, log *logrus.Logger) api.ClientModule {
+func New(config *config.Config, db db.DB, log *logrus.Logger) api.ClientModule {
 	return &Module{
 		config: config,
 		log:    log,
+		db:     db,
 	}
 }
 
 // Route attaches security middleware to the given router
 func (m *Module) Route(s router.Router) error {
+	s.AttachMiddleware(m.SignatureCheck)
 	s.AttachMiddleware(m.FlocBlock)
 	s.AttachMiddleware(m.ExtraHeaders)
 	s.AttachMiddleware(m.UserAgentBlock)
diff --git a/internal/api/security/signaturecheck.go b/internal/api/security/signaturecheck.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdc2625a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/api/security/signaturecheck.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+package security
+
+import (
+	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
+
+	"github.com/gin-gonic/gin"
+	"github.com/go-fed/httpsig"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
+)
+
+func (m *Module) SignatureCheck(c *gin.Context) {
+	l := m.log.WithField("func", "DomainBlockChecker")
+
+	// set this extra field for signature validation
+	c.Request.Header.Set("host", m.config.Host)
+
+	// create the verifier from the request
+	// if the request is signed, it will have a signature header
+	verifier, err := httpsig.NewVerifier(c.Request)
+	if err == nil {
+		// the request was signed!
+
+		// The key ID should be given in the signature so that we know where to fetch it from the remote server.
+		// This will be something like https://example.org/users/whatever_requesting_user#main-key
+		requestingPublicKeyID, err := url.Parse(verifier.KeyId())
+		if err == nil && requestingPublicKeyID != nil {
+			// we managed to parse the url!
+
+			// if the domain is blocked we want to bail as early as possible
+			blockedDomain, err := m.blockedDomain(requestingPublicKeyID.Host)
+			if err != nil {
+				l.Errorf("could not tell if domain %s was blocked or not: %s", requestingPublicKeyID.Host, err)
+				c.AbortWithStatus(http.StatusInternalServerError)
+				return
+			}
+			if blockedDomain {
+				l.Infof("domain %s is blocked", requestingPublicKeyID.Host)
+				c.AbortWithStatus(http.StatusForbidden)
+				return
+			}
+
+			// set the verifier on the context here to save some work further down the line
+			c.Set(string(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier), verifier)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *Module) blockedDomain(host string) (bool, error) {
+	b := &gtsmodel.DomainBlock{}
+	err := m.db.GetWhere([]db.Where{{Key: "domain", Value: host, CaseInsensitive: true}}, b)
+	if err == nil {
+		// block exists
+		return true, nil
+	}
+
+	if _, ok := err.(db.ErrNoEntries); ok {
+		// there are no entries so there's no block
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	// there's an actual error
+	return false, err
+}
diff --git a/internal/cliactions/server/server.go b/internal/cliactions/server/server.go
index 0a416e4e7..4864dacb4 100644
--- a/internal/cliactions/server/server.go
+++ b/internal/cliactions/server/server.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ var Start cliactions.GTSAction = func(ctx context.Context, c *config.Config, log
 	fileServerModule := fileserver.New(c, processor, log)
 	adminModule := admin.New(c, processor, log)
 	statusModule := status.New(c, processor, log)
-	securityModule := security.New(c, log)
+	securityModule := security.New(c, dbService, log)
 	streamingModule := streaming.New(c, processor, log)
 
 	apis := []api.ClientModule{
diff --git a/internal/cliactions/testrig/testrig.go b/internal/cliactions/testrig/testrig.go
index e960d6691..a1d2d7af7 100644
--- a/internal/cliactions/testrig/testrig.go
+++ b/internal/cliactions/testrig/testrig.go
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ var Start cliactions.GTSAction = func(ctx context.Context, _ *config.Config, log
 	fileServerModule := fileserver.New(c, processor, log)
 	adminModule := admin.New(c, processor, log)
 	statusModule := status.New(c, processor, log)
-	securityModule := security.New(c, log)
+	securityModule := security.New(c, dbService, log)
 	streamingModule := streaming.New(c, processor, log)
 
 	apis := []api.ClientModule{
diff --git a/internal/federation/authenticate.go b/internal/federation/authenticate.go
index f7ca51ec3..0cb8db6dc 100644
--- a/internal/federation/authenticate.go
+++ b/internal/federation/authenticate.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/pem"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
-	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-fed/httpsig"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/db"
 	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/gtsmodel"
+	"github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/util"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -115,35 +115,30 @@ func getPublicKeyFromResponse(c context.Context, b []byte, keyID *url.URL) (voca
 //
 // Also note that this function *does not* dereference the remote account that the signature key is associated with.
 // Other functions should use the returned URL to dereference the remote account, if required.
-func (f *federator) AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedUsername string, r *http.Request) (*url.URL, bool, error) {
+func (f *federator) AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string) (*url.URL, bool, error) {
+	l := f.log.WithField("func", "AuthenticateFederatedRequest")
 
 	var publicKey interface{}
 	var pkOwnerURI *url.URL
 	var err error
 
-	// set this extra field for signature validation
-	r.Header.Set("host", f.config.Host)
-
-	verifier, err := httpsig.NewVerifier(r)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("could not create http sig verifier: %s", err)
+	// thanks to signaturecheck.go in the security package, we should already have a signature verifier set on the context
+	vi := ctx.Value(util.APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier)
+	if vi == nil {
+		l.Debug("request wasn't signed")
+		return nil, false, nil // request wasn't signed
+	}
+
+	verifier, ok := vi.(httpsig.Verifier)
+	if !ok {
+		l.Debug("couldn't extract sig verifier")
+		return nil, false, nil // couldn't extract the verifier
 	}
 
-	// The key ID should be given in the signature so that we know where to fetch it from the remote server.
-	// This will be something like https://example.org/users/whatever_requesting_user#main-key
 	requestingPublicKeyID, err := url.Parse(verifier.KeyId())
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("could not parse key id into a url: %s", err)
-	}
-
-	// if the domain is blocked we want to make as few calls towards it as possible, so already bail here if that's the case!
-	blockedDomain, err := f.blockedDomain(requestingPublicKeyID.Host)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("could not tell if domain %s was blocked or not: %s", requestingPublicKeyID.Host, err)
-	}
-	if blockedDomain {
-		f.log.Infof("domain %s is blocked", requestingPublicKeyID.Host)
-		return nil, false, nil
+		l.Debug("couldn't parse public key URL")
+		return nil, false, nil // couldn't parse the public key ID url
 	}
 
 	requestingRemoteAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
diff --git a/internal/federation/federatingprotocol.go b/internal/federation/federatingprotocol.go
index 299fcf8f6..429539e37 100644
--- a/internal/federation/federatingprotocol.go
+++ b/internal/federation/federatingprotocol.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func (f *federator) AuthenticatePostInbox(ctx context.Context, w http.ResponseWr
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("could not fetch requested account with username %s: %s", username, err)
 	}
 
-	publicKeyOwnerURI, authenticated, err := f.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedAccount.Username, r)
+	publicKeyOwnerURI, authenticated, err := f.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedAccount.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Debugf("request not authenticated: %s", err)
 		return ctx, false, err
diff --git a/internal/federation/federator.go b/internal/federation/federator.go
index 1a72fa348..a5ffb3de8 100644
--- a/internal/federation/federator.go
+++ b/internal/federation/federator.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 package federation
 
 import (
-	"net/http"
+	"context"
 	"net/url"
 	"sync"
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type Federator interface {
 	// If the request does not pass authentication, or there's a domain block, nil, false, nil will be returned.
 	//
 	// If something goes wrong during authentication, nil, false, and an error will be returned.
-	AuthenticateFederatedRequest(username string, r *http.Request) (*url.URL, bool, error)
+	AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx context.Context, username string) (*url.URL, bool, error)
 	// FingerRemoteAccount performs a webfinger lookup for a remote account, using the .well-known path. It will return the ActivityPub URI for that
 	// account, or an error if it doesn't exist or can't be retrieved.
 	FingerRemoteAccount(requestingUsername string, targetUsername string, targetDomain string) (*url.URL, error)
diff --git a/internal/processing/federation.go b/internal/processing/federation.go
index 41e6cf2fe..6299d5e7e 100644
--- a/internal/processing/federation.go
+++ b/internal/processing/federation.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ package processing
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"net/url"
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ func (p *processor) dereferenceFediRequest(username string, requestingAccountURI
 	return requestingAccount, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) GetFediUser(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetFediUser(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// get the account the request is referring to
 	requestedAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
 	if err := p.db.GetLocalAccountByUsername(requestedUsername, requestedAccount); err != nil {
@@ -98,17 +99,17 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediUser(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request)
 
 	var requestedPerson vocab.ActivityStreamsPerson
 	var err error
-	if util.IsPublicKeyPath(request.URL) {
+	if util.IsPublicKeyPath(requestURL) {
 		// if it's a public key path, we don't need to authenticate but we'll only serve the bare minimum user profile needed for the public key
 		requestedPerson, err = p.tc.AccountToASMinimal(requestedAccount)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorInternalError(err)
 		}
-	} else if util.IsUserPath(request.URL) {
+	} else if util.IsUserPath(requestURL) {
 		// if it's a user path, we want to fully authenticate the request before we serve any data, and then we can serve a more complete profile
-		requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedUsername, request)
+		requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedUsername)
 		if err != nil || !authenticated {
-			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(err)
+			return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(errors.New("not authorized"), "not authorized")
 		}
 
 		// if we're already handshaking/dereferencing a remote account, we can skip the dereferencing part
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediUser(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request)
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) GetFediFollowers(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetFediFollowers(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// get the account the request is referring to
 	requestedAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
 	if err := p.db.GetLocalAccountByUsername(requestedUsername, requestedAccount); err != nil {
@@ -152,9 +153,9 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediFollowers(requestedUsername string, request *http.Req
 	}
 
 	// authenticate the request
-	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedUsername, request)
+	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedUsername)
 	if err != nil || !authenticated {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(errors.New("not authorized"), "not authorized")
 	}
 
 	requestingAccount, err := p.dereferenceFediRequest(requestedUsername, requestingAccountURI)
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediFollowers(requestedUsername string, request *http.Req
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) GetFediFollowing(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetFediFollowing(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// get the account the request is referring to
 	requestedAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
 	if err := p.db.GetLocalAccountByUsername(requestedUsername, requestedAccount); err != nil {
@@ -197,9 +198,9 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediFollowing(requestedUsername string, request *http.Req
 	}
 
 	// authenticate the request
-	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedUsername, request)
+	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedUsername)
 	if err != nil || !authenticated {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(errors.New("not authorized"), "not authorized")
 	}
 
 	requestingAccount, err := p.dereferenceFediRequest(requestedUsername, requestingAccountURI)
@@ -234,7 +235,7 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediFollowing(requestedUsername string, request *http.Req
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) GetFediStatus(requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetFediStatus(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// get the account the request is referring to
 	requestedAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
 	if err := p.db.GetLocalAccountByUsername(requestedUsername, requestedAccount); err != nil {
@@ -242,9 +243,9 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediStatus(requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID st
 	}
 
 	// authenticate the request
-	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(requestedUsername, request)
+	requestingAccountURI, authenticated, err := p.federator.AuthenticateFederatedRequest(ctx, requestedUsername)
 	if err != nil || !authenticated {
-		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(err)
+		return nil, gtserror.NewErrorNotAuthorized(errors.New("not authorized"), "not authorized")
 	}
 
 	requestingAccount, err := p.dereferenceFediRequest(requestedUsername, requestingAccountURI)
@@ -294,7 +295,7 @@ func (p *processor) GetFediStatus(requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID st
 	return data, nil
 }
 
-func (p *processor) GetWebfingerAccount(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (*apimodel.WellKnownResponse, gtserror.WithCode) {
+func (p *processor) GetWebfingerAccount(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (*apimodel.WellKnownResponse, gtserror.WithCode) {
 	// get the account the request is referring to
 	requestedAccount := &gtsmodel.Account{}
 	if err := p.db.GetLocalAccountByUsername(requestedUsername, requestedAccount); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/processing/processor.go b/internal/processing/processor.go
index ffc3ed156..9ede72967 100644
--- a/internal/processing/processor.go
+++ b/internal/processing/processor.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package processing
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net/http"
+	"net/url"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	apimodel "github.com/superseriousbusiness/gotosocial/internal/api/model"
@@ -158,22 +159,22 @@ type Processor interface {
 
 	// GetFediUser handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a user/account, performing appropriate authentication
 	// before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
-	GetFediUser(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
+	GetFediUser(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
 
 	// GetFediFollowers handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a user/account's followers, performing appropriate
 	// authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
-	GetFediFollowers(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
+	GetFediFollowers(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
 
 	// GetFediFollowing handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a user/account's following, performing appropriate
 	// authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
-	GetFediFollowing(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
+	GetFediFollowing(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
 
 	// GetFediStatus handles the getting of a fedi/activitypub representation of a particular status, performing appropriate
 	// authentication before returning a JSON serializable interface to the caller.
-	GetFediStatus(requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID string, request *http.Request) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
+	GetFediStatus(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestedStatusID string, requestURL *url.URL) (interface{}, gtserror.WithCode)
 
 	// GetWebfingerAccount handles the GET for a webfinger resource. Most commonly, it will be used for returning account lookups.
-	GetWebfingerAccount(requestedUsername string, request *http.Request) (*apimodel.WellKnownResponse, gtserror.WithCode)
+	GetWebfingerAccount(ctx context.Context, requestedUsername string, requestURL *url.URL) (*apimodel.WellKnownResponse, gtserror.WithCode)
 
 	// GetNodeInfoRel returns a well known response giving the path to node info.
 	GetNodeInfoRel(request *http.Request) (*apimodel.WellKnownResponse, gtserror.WithCode)
diff --git a/internal/util/uri.go b/internal/util/uri.go
index 2bfdd6c40..5eb291628 100644
--- a/internal/util/uri.go
+++ b/internal/util/uri.go
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ const (
 	// APRequestingActorIRI can be used to set and retrieve the actor of an incoming federation request.
 	// This will usually be the owner of whatever activity is being posted.
 	APRequestingActorIRI APContextKey = "requestingActorIRI"
-	// APRequestingPublicKeyID can be used to set and retrieve the public key ID of an incoming federation request.
-	APRequestingPublicKeyID APContextKey = "requestingPublicKeyID"
+	// APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier can be used to set and retrieve the public key verifier of an incoming federation request.
+	APRequestingPublicKeyVerifier APContextKey = "requestingPublicKeyVerifier"
 	// APFromFederatorChanKey can be used to pass a pointer to the fromFederator channel into the federator for use in callbacks.
 	APFromFederatorChanKey APContextKey = "fromFederatorChan"
 )
diff --git a/internal/visibility/statusvisible.go b/internal/visibility/statusvisible.go
index 6c3b40500..e0b3a8d9e 100644
--- a/internal/visibility/statusvisible.go
+++ b/internal/visibility/statusvisible.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package visibility
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"net/url"
 
 	"fmt"
 
@@ -17,21 +16,23 @@ func (f *filter) StatusVisible(targetStatus *gtsmodel.Status, requestingAccount
 		"statusID": targetStatus.ID,
 	})
 
-	uri, err := url.Parse(targetStatus.URI)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("StatusVisible: error parsing uri: %s", targetStatus.URI)
-	}
-	if blocked, err := f.blockedDomain(uri.Host); blocked || err != nil {
-		l.Debugf("domain %s is blocked", uri.Host)
-		return blocked, err
-	}
-aaaaaaaaaa
 	relevantAccounts, err := f.pullRelevantAccountsFromStatus(targetStatus)
 	if err != nil {
 		l.Debugf("error pulling relevant accounts for status %s: %s", targetStatus.ID, err)
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("error pulling relevant accounts for status %s: %s", targetStatus.ID, err)
 	}
-	targetAccount := relevantAccounts.StatusAuthor
 
+	domainBlocked, err := f.blockedRelevant(relevantAccounts)
+	if err != nil {
+		l.Debugf("error checking domain block: %s", err)
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("error checking domain block: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	if domainBlocked {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+
+	targetAccount := relevantAccounts.StatusAuthor
 	// if target account is suspended then don't show the status
 	if !targetAccount.SuspendedAt.IsZero() {
 		l.Trace("target account suspended at is not zero")
diff --git a/internal/visibility/util.go b/internal/visibility/util.go
index 47ced2884..dd4470f11 100644
--- a/internal/visibility/util.go
+++ b/internal/visibility/util.go
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ type relevantAccounts struct {
 	MentionedAccounts     []*gtsmodel.Account
 }
 
+// blockedDomain checks whether the given domain is blocked by us or not
 func (f *filter) blockedDomain(host string) (bool, error) {
 	b := &gtsmodel.DomainBlock{}
 	err := f.db.GetWhere([]db.Where{{Key: "domain", Value: host, CaseInsensitive: true}}, b)
@@ -97,3 +98,59 @@ func (f *filter) blockedDomain(host string) (bool, error) {
 	// there's an actual error
 	return false, err
 }
+
+// blockedRelevant checks through all relevant accounts attached to a status
+// to make sure none of them are domain blocked by this instance.
+func (f *filter) blockedRelevant(r *relevantAccounts) (bool, error) {
+	if r.StatusAuthor != nil {
+		b, err := f.blockedDomain(r.StatusAuthor.Domain)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if b {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	if r.ReplyToAccount != nil {
+		b, err := f.blockedDomain(r.ReplyToAccount.Domain)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if b {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	if r.BoostedAccount != nil {
+		b, err := f.blockedDomain(r.BoostedAccount.Domain)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if b {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	if r.BoostedReplyToAccount != nil {
+		b, err := f.blockedDomain(r.BoostedReplyToAccount.Domain)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if b {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	for _, a := range r.MentionedAccounts {
+		b, err := f.blockedDomain(a.Domain)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, err
+		}
+		if b {
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false, nil
+}