diff --git a/client/src/global/components/Annotation/Editor/index.js b/client/src/global/components/Annotation/Editor/index.js
index 85e20976f7..6441b887c3 100644
--- a/client/src/global/components/Annotation/Editor/index.js
+++ b/client/src/global/components/Annotation/Editor/index.js
@@ -98,15 +98,26 @@ class AnnotationEditor extends PureComponent {
     return this.props.t("navigation.reading_group.my_private_annotations");
   }
 
+  get currentGroupObject() {
+    if (
+      this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup === "public" ||
+      this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup === "private" ||
+      !this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup
+    )
+      return null;
+
+    return this.readingGroups.find(
+      group => group.id === this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup
+    );
+  }
+
   get currentGroupName() {
     if (this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup === "public")
       return this.publicLabel;
     if (this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup === "private")
       return this.privateLabel;
 
-    const currentGroup = this.readingGroups.find(
-      group => group.id === this.props.currentAnnotatingReadingGroup
-    );
+    const currentGroup = this.currentGroupObject;
 
     if (!currentGroup) return this.setReadingGroup("private");
     return currentGroup.attributes.name;
@@ -123,9 +134,7 @@ class AnnotationEditor extends PureComponent {
     if (currentGroup === "private") return false;
     if (currentGroup === "public") return true;
 
-    if (currentGroup?.attributes.privacy === "public") return true;
-
-    return false;
+    return this.currentGroupObject?.attributes.privacy === "public";
   }
 
   get disableSubmit() {
diff --git a/client/src/reader/components/annotation/popup/menus/Main/index.js b/client/src/reader/components/annotation/popup/menus/Main/index.js
index f2784e2e65..eb9a91b626 100644
--- a/client/src/reader/components/annotation/popup/menus/Main/index.js
+++ b/client/src/reader/components/annotation/popup/menus/Main/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import React from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { useCurrentUser } from "hooks";
 import PropTypes from "prop-types";
 import Menu from "../../parts/Menu";
 import MenuItems from "./Items";
@@ -21,6 +22,19 @@ function MainMenu({
     ...restProps
   };
   const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const currentUser = useCurrentUser();
+
+  const { readingGroups, currentReadingGroup } = itemProps;
+
+  // Users who are neither trusted nor established cannot create public annotations or highlights.
+  const isPublic =
+    currentReadingGroup === "public" ||
+    readingGroups.find(group => group.id === currentReadingGroup)?.attributes
+      ?.privacy === "public";
+  const established = currentUser?.attributes.established;
+  const trusted = currentUser?.attributes.trusted;
+
+  const permitAnnotation = established || trusted || !isPublic;
 
   return (
     <Menu
@@ -33,9 +47,13 @@ function MainMenu({
       onKeyDown={onKeyDown}
     >
       <MenuItems.Share {...itemProps} onClick={() => openSubmenu("share")} />
-      <MenuItems.Notate {...itemProps} />
-      <MenuItems.Annotate {...itemProps} />
-      <MenuItems.Highlight {...itemProps} />
+      {permitAnnotation && (
+        <>
+          <MenuItems.Notate {...itemProps} />
+          <MenuItems.Annotate {...itemProps} />
+          <MenuItems.Highlight {...itemProps} />
+        </>
+      )}
       <MenuItems.CurrentReadingGroup
         {...itemProps}
         onClick={() => openSubmenu("readingGroup")}