account_unfollow · Mastodon MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What account_unfollow does on Mastodon

AI agents use account_unfollow to create or update resources in Mastodon — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Mastodon environment.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why account_unfollow needs a policy

Unfollowing an account modifies social graph data (removes a follow relationship) but is reversible since the user can re-follow at any time. It does not delete content or cause financial impact. Write is the most appropriate category.

From the tool's definition Unfollow an account — reverses a follow relationship, which is a reversible social action

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

account_unfollow Rate-limited

account_unfollow 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.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "account_unfollow": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "account_unfollow_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Mastodon, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about account_unfollow

What does the account_unfollow tool do? +

Unfollow an account. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Mastodon MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on account_unfollow? +

Register the Mastodon MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for account_unfollow: 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 Mastodon. Nothing to install.

What risk level is account_unfollow? +

account_unfollow is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit account_unfollow? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the account_unfollow 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.

How do I block account_unfollow completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for account_unfollow. 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.

What MCP server provides account_unfollow? +

account_unfollow is provided by the Mastodon MCP server (vitexsoftware/mastodon-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.