This record as markdown: /tools/openclaw/activation.md
What activation does on OpenClaw
AI agents use activation to create or update resources in OpenClaw, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your OpenClaw environment.
Why activation is rated Medium
This tool creates or modifies group configuration state (activation status) in a reversible manner. The parameters suggest toggling between 'mention' and 'always' modes, which are configuration changes rather than reads, executions of external code, deletions, or financial operations.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'activation' and description 'Set group activation (mention|always)' indicates modifying the state of a group's activation settings.
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs activation safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and OpenClaw, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For activation, this is the rule to start with:
activation stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect OpenClaw, apply this rule, and every activation call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about activation
Set group activation (mention|always). It is categorised as a Write tool in the OpenClaw MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the OpenClaw MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for activation: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches OpenClaw. Nothing to install.
activation is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the activation rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for activation. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
activation is provided by the OpenClaw MCP server (openclaw). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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