feat(account): a user can delete their own account, an admin can delete one

Both go through the same erasure, so there is one description of what happens
rather than two that drift.

Gone: credentials, email, node key, group memberships, notifications, refresh
tokens, node registrations. The username is released.

Kept, on purpose and stated in the UI: the row itself, emptied, and the IP log
that points at it. Those logs exist for a year to answer legal requests, and a
log that can no longer say whose connection it recorded keeps the data while
losing the only thing it is for. So the account becomes a tombstone rather than a
hole in the table.

Out of reach, also stated: files uploaded to nodes, and the identity keys nodes
pinned. Those are on machines the hub does not command, and only their operators
can remove them — `member unpin` and a delete on their own disk. Saying so in the
confirmation matters more than the button.

Owning groups blocks deletion, with the list. Cascading would delete other
people's groups out from under them; the account holder can hand them over or
delete them first, deliberately.

Self-deletion re-checks the passphrase. A live token may be a borrowed laptop or
a tab left open, and it is not consent to something irreversible. Admin deletion
requires admin rather than moderator: suspension is the reversible moderation
tool and stays one click away.

A deleted account's access token stops working at once — the status check already
refuses anything but "active", which the tests now pin down, because refresh
tokens being gone would otherwise leave up to an hour of usable session.

Tests: 8 covering what survives and what does not, plus a db_session fixture for
assertions that cannot honestly be made through the API.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

5 files changed, 206 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/admin.py b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/admin.py
index 164885d..efebb75 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/admin.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/admin.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import func, select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from meshbay_hub.auth import decrypt_email
-from meshbay_hub.api.deps import require_moderator
+from meshbay_hub.api.deps import require_admin, require_moderator
 from meshbay_hub.api.revocation import get_connected_node_count
 from meshbay_hub.db.engine import get_db
 from meshbay_hub.db.models import Group, GroupMember, IPLog, Node, User
@@ -181,6 +181,37 @@ async def admin_patch_user(
 
 # ── Groups ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+@router.delete("/users/{user_id}")
+async def admin_delete_user(
+    user_id: str,
+    current_user: User = Depends(require_admin),
+    db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db),
+):
+    """
+    Erase an account. Same erasure a user performs on themselves.
+
+    Admin rather than moderator: suspension is reversible and is the moderation
+    tool; this is not. Refused for one's own account — an administrator locking
+    themselves out is a support incident, and there is `DELETE /v1/users/me` for
+    someone who means it.
+    """
+    from meshbay_hub.api.users import erase_account
+
+    user = await db.get(User, user_id)
+    if not user:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="User not found")
+    if user.id == current_user.id:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=400,
+            detail="Use your own account settings to delete your account")
+    if user.status == "deleted":
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=410, detail="Account already deleted")
+
+    result = await erase_account(db, user)
+    log.info("Account %s erased by admin %s", result["username"], current_user.username)
+    return result
+
+
 @router.get("/groups")
 async def admin_list_groups(
     current_user: User = Depends(require_moderator),
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/users.py b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/users.py
index af9141c..b7b402f 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/users.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/api/users.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 """User endpoints — /v1/users/*"""
 
 import base64
+import logging
 import uuid
 from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Request, status
 from pydantic import BaseModel, field_validator
-from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy import delete, select
 from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import AsyncSession
 
 from meshbay_hub.auth import (
@@ -25,9 +26,13 @@ from meshbay_hub.api.middleware import limiter
 from meshbay_hub.api.netutil import client_ip
 from meshbay_hub.config import HubConfig
 from meshbay_hub.db.engine import get_db
-from meshbay_hub.db.models import GroupMember, IPLog, RefreshToken, User
+from meshbay_hub.db.models import (
+    Group, GroupMember, IPLog, Node, Notification, RefreshToken, User,
+)
 from meshbay_hub.api.deps import get_current_user, require_user_scope
 
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/v1/users", tags=["users"])
 
 _cfg: HubConfig | None = None
@@ -324,6 +329,77 @@ async def register_node_key(
 # call that silently changes what every node believes about someone.
 
 
+# ── Account deletion ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async def erase_account(db: AsyncSession, user: User) -> dict:
+    """
+    Erase an account, keeping only what the law asked us to keep.
+
+    Gone: credentials, email, node key, group memberships, notifications, refresh
+    tokens, node registrations. The username is released.
+
+    Kept: the row itself, emptied, and the IP log that points at it. Those logs
+    exist for one year to answer legal requests, and a log that cannot say whose
+    connection it recorded does not do that — detaching them would keep the data
+    and lose the only thing it is for. So the account becomes a tombstone rather
+    than a hole in the table.
+
+    Not touched, because the hub cannot: files this person uploaded to nodes, and
+    the identity keys nodes pinned for them. Those live on machines the hub does
+    not command, and only their operators can remove them.
+    """
+    owned = (await db.execute(
+        select(Group).where(Group.admin_id == user.id))).scalars().all()
+    if owned:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=409,
+            detail=("This account still owns groups: "
+                    + ", ".join(g.name for g in owned)
+                    + ". Delete them or hand them over first — deleting the "
+                      "account would strand their members."),
+        )
+
+    await db.execute(delete(GroupMember).where(GroupMember.user_id == user.id))
+    await db.execute(delete(Notification).where(Notification.user_id == user.id))
+    await db.execute(delete(RefreshToken).where(RefreshToken.user_id == user.id))
+    await db.execute(delete(Node).where(Node.user_id == user.id))
+
+    username = user.username
+    user.username = f"deleted-{user.id[:8]}"
+    user.email = ""
+    user.pw_hash = b""
+    user.pw_salt = b""
+    user.pk_node_ed25519 = None
+    user.status = "deleted"
+    user.role = "user"
+    await db.commit()
+    log.info("Account erased: %s (%s)", username, user.id[:8])
+    return {"status": "deleted", "username": username}
+
+
+class DeleteAccountRequest(BaseModel):
+    auth_key: str
+
+
+@router.delete("/me")
+async def delete_own_account(
+    body: DeleteAccountRequest,
+    current_user: User = Depends(require_user_scope),
+    db: AsyncSession = Depends(get_db),
+):
+    """
+    Erase your own account. The passphrase is re-checked here.
+
+    A live access token is not enough for something irreversible: it may be a
+    borrowed laptop or a session left open. Same value as at sign-in, so the hub
+    still never sees the passphrase itself.
+    """
+    if not verify_password(body.auth_key, current_user.pw_hash, current_user.pw_salt,
+                           current_user.pw_version):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403, detail="Passphrase does not match")
+    return await erase_account(db, current_user)
+
+
 @router.get("/{username}/pubkeys")
 async def get_user_pubkeys(
     username: str,
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/app.js b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/app.js
index d8b83ed..7b1b5fc 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/app.js
+++ b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/app.js
@@ -2130,7 +2130,7 @@ function SearchPage() {
 
 const THEME_OPTIONS = ['light', 'dark', 'system'];
 
-function SettingsPage({ user, theme, onThemeChange, groups }) {
+function SettingsPage({ user, theme, onThemeChange, groups, onLogout }) {
   const [locale, setLoc] = useState(getLocale);
   const [muted, setMuted] = useState(() => {
     try { return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('mb_muted') || '{}'); }
@@ -2142,6 +2142,29 @@ function SettingsPage({ user, theme, onThemeChange, groups }) {
   const [nodeKeyLoading, setNodeKeyLoading] = useState(false);
   const [pinCount, setPinCount] = useState(
     () => (window.MeshBayTransport?.pinnedNodeCount?.() ?? 0));
+  const [delOpen, setDelOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [delPass, setDelPass] = useState('');
+  const [delError, setDelError] = useState('');
+  const [deleting, setDeleting] = useState(false);
+
+  const deleteAccount = useCallback(async (e) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    setDeleting(true);
+    setDelError('');
+    try {
+      // The passphrase is re-checked by the hub, not merely by this form: an
+      // open session is not consent to something irreversible.
+      const authKey = await window.MeshBayKeys.deriveAuthKey(delPass, user.username);
+      await hubFetch('/v1/users/me', {
+        method: 'DELETE', token: user.token, body: { auth_key: authKey },
+      });
+      onLogout();
+    } catch (err) {
+      setDelError(err.message);
+    } finally {
+      setDeleting(false);
+    }
+  }, [delPass, user]);
 
   // 11.5.8: node identity pins are refused strictly on change, so users need a
   // deliberate way to accept a legitimate rotation (operator reinstalled a node).
@@ -2251,6 +2274,33 @@ function SettingsPage({ user, theme, onThemeChange, groups }) {
       </div>
 
       <div class="settings-section">
+        <h3 class="settings-heading">${t('settings.danger')}</h3>
+        <p class="settings-hint">${t('settings.delete_hint')}</p>
+        ${delError && html`<p class="error-msg">${delError}</p>`}
+        ${!delOpen
+          ? html`<button class="btn-danger" onClick=${() => setDelOpen(true)}>
+              ${t('settings.delete_account')}
+            </button>`
+          : html`
+            <form onSubmit=${deleteAccount}>
+              <p class="settings-hint">${t('settings.delete_confirm')}</p>
+              <div style="display:flex;gap:8px;margin-top:8px">
+                <input type="password" placeholder=${t('login.password')}
+                  autocomplete="current-password"
+                  value=${delPass} onInput=${e => setDelPass(e.target.value)} required />
+                <button class="btn-danger" type="submit" disabled=${deleting}>
+                  ${deleting ? '…' : t('settings.delete_confirm_btn')}
+                </button>
+                <button class="btn-secondary" type="button"
+                  onClick=${() => { setDelOpen(false); setDelPass(''); setDelError(''); }}>
+                  ${t('settings.cancel')}
+                </button>
+              </div>
+            </form>
+          `}
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="settings-section">
         <h3 class="settings-heading">${t('settings.appearance')}</h3>
         <div class="settings-row">
           <span class="settings-label">${t('settings.theme')}</span>
@@ -2368,6 +2418,18 @@ function AdminPage({ token }) {
     else if (tab === 'blocklist') loadBlocklist();
   }, [tab]);
 
+  const deleteUser = useCallback(async (u) => {
+    // Suspension is the reversible tool and stays one click away; this one is
+    // not, so it names the account and says what it cannot reach.
+    if (!confirm(t('admin.delete_confirm', { user: u.username }))) return;
+    try {
+      await hubFetch(`/v1/admin/users/${u.id}`, { method: 'DELETE', token });
+      loadUsers(userSearch);
+    } catch (err) {
+      alert(err.message);
+    }
+  }, [token, userSearch, loadUsers]);
+
   const patchUser = useCallback(async (userId, patch) => {
     try {
       await hubFetch(`/v1/admin/users/${userId}`, { method: 'PATCH', body: patch, token });
@@ -2510,6 +2572,10 @@ function AdminPage({ token }) {
                       ? html`<button class="admin-btn" onClick=${() => patchUser(u.id, { status: 'active' })}>${t('admin.btn_unsuspend')}</button>`
                       : null
                   }
+                  ${u.status !== 'deleted' && html`
+                    <button class="admin-btn danger"
+                      onClick=${() => deleteUser(u)}>${t('admin.btn_delete')}</button>
+                  `}
                 </td>
               </tr>
             `)}
@@ -2806,7 +2872,7 @@ function App() {
       : html`<${HomePage} groups=${groups} notifications=${notifications} onMarkRead=${markRead} />`;
   } else if (route === '/settings') {
     page = html`<${SettingsPage} user=${user} theme=${theme}
-      onThemeChange=${setTheme} groups=${groups} />`;
+      onThemeChange=${setTheme} groups=${groups} onLogout=${authCtx.logout} />`;
   } else {
     page = html`<${HomePage} groups=${groups} notifications=${notifications} onMarkRead=${markRead} />`;
   }
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/i18n.js b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/i18n.js
index c19411b..1b03375 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/i18n.js
+++ b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/i18n.js
@@ -132,6 +132,16 @@ const en = {
   'settings.node_pins_hint': "Each node's identity key is remembered the first time you connect. If it changes, the connection is refused — that is expected only when an operator reinstalls a node. Verify with them before clearing.",
   'settings.node_pins_count': '{n} pinned',
   'settings.node_pins_clear': 'Clear pinned identities',
+  'settings.danger': 'Delete account',
+  'settings.delete_hint': 'Removes your account, your group memberships and your '
+    + 'notifications from the hub, and frees your username. It cannot reach what '
+    + 'lives on nodes: files you uploaded stay where their operator keeps them, '
+    + 'and each node keeps the identity it pinned for you until its operator '
+    + 'unpins it. Connection logs are kept for a year, as the law requires.',
+  'settings.delete_account': 'Delete my account',
+  'settings.delete_confirm': 'Enter your passphrase to confirm. This cannot be undone.',
+  'settings.delete_confirm_btn': 'Delete for good',
+  'settings.cancel': 'Cancel',
   'settings.appearance': 'Appearance',
   'settings.theme': 'Theme',
   'settings.theme_light': 'Light',
@@ -190,6 +200,11 @@ const en = {
   'admin.btn_suspend': 'Suspend',
   'admin.btn_unsuspend': 'Unsuspend',
   'admin.btn_details': 'Details',
+  'admin.btn_delete': 'Delete',
+  'admin.delete_confirm': 'Delete the account "{user}"? This cannot be undone. '
+    + 'Files they uploaded stay on the nodes that host them, and each node keeps '
+    + 'the identity it pinned until its operator unpins it. Suspending is the '
+    + 'reversible option.',
   'admin.user_detail': 'User details',
   'admin.btn_close': 'Close',
   'admin.self_note': '(you)',
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/style.css b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/style.css
index 361ff7e..d948dc2 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/style.css
+++ b/packages/meshbay-hub/src/meshbay_hub/static/style.css
@@ -1420,3 +1420,16 @@ button:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed; }
   border-radius: 8px;
   background: var(--bg-surface);
 }
+
+/* Irreversible actions look like it. */
+.btn-danger {
+  background: var(--error);
+  color: #fff;
+  border: none;
+  padding: 8px 16px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 0.9em;
+}
+.btn-danger:hover { filter: brightness(1.1); }
+.btn-danger:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed; }