diff --git a/cdk/lambda/receive_inbound_activity/index.py b/cdk/lambda/receive_inbound_activity/index.py
index 4668541..3d28b80 100644
--- a/cdk/lambda/receive_inbound_activity/index.py
+++ b/cdk/lambda/receive_inbound_activity/index.py
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import os
-from typing import Any, Optional
+from typing import Any, Optional, Tuple
 import boto3
-from libactivitypub.activity import Activity
+from libactivitypub.activity import Activity, Delete
 from libactivitypub.actor import Actor
 from libactivitypub.signature import (
     VerificationError,
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@
 logging.getLogger('libactivitypub').setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 logging.getLogger('libmumble').setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
 
+PREFILTER_BODY_SIZE = 10 * 1024 # 10 KB
+
 DOMAIN_NAME = get_domain_name(boto3.client('ssm'))
 
 # user table
@@ -111,6 +113,30 @@ def quarantine(tag: str, payload: Any, options: Optional[Any]=None):
     LOGGER.debug('quarantined payload: %s', res)
 
 
+def prefilter_activity(body: str) -> Tuple[Optional[str], Optional[Activity]]:
+    """Prefilters a given activity.
+
+    Patterns of a returned value:
+    * (``None``, ``None``): activity is too large to prefilter
+    * (``None``, non-``None``): activity is not prefiltered
+    * (non-``None``, non-``None``): activity is prefiltered
+
+    :raises ValueError: if ``body`` is not a valid ``Activity``.
+
+    :raises TypeError: if ``body`` is not a valid ``Activity``.
+    """
+    if len(body) > PREFILTER_BODY_SIZE:
+        return None, None
+    LOGGER.debug('prefiltering activity')
+    activity = Activity.parse_object(json.loads(body))
+    # prefilters "Delete" activities of the actor itself
+    if activity.type == 'Delete':
+        delete = activity.cast(Delete)
+        if delete.actor_id == delete.object_id:
+            return 'Delete of the actor itself', activity
+    return None, activity
+
+
 def lambda_handler(event, _context):
     """Runs on AWS Lambda.
 
@@ -149,6 +175,16 @@ def lambda_handler(event, _context):
     username = event['username']
     LOGGER.debug('processing activity sent to: %s', username)
 
+    # parses activity for prefilter unless it is too large
+    try:
+        filter_tag, activity = prefilter_activity(event['body'])
+        if filter_tag:
+            LOGGER.debug('prefiltered activity: %s', filter_tag)
+            return
+    except (TypeError, ValueError) as exc:
+        quarantine('invalid_activity', event)
+        raise BadRequestError(f'{exc}') from exc
+
     LOGGER.debug('parsing signature')
     try:
         signature = parse_signature(event['signature'])
@@ -198,12 +234,13 @@ def lambda_handler(event, _context):
         raise UnauthorizedError(f'failed to authenticate: {exc}') from exc
 
     # once the signature is verified, we can parse the body
-    LOGGER.debug('parsing activity')
-    try:
-        activity = Activity.parse_object(json.loads(body))
-    except ValueError as exc:
-        quarantine('invalid_activity', event)
-        raise BadRequestError(f'{exc}') from exc
+    if activity is None:
+        LOGGER.debug('parsing activity')
+        try:
+            activity = Activity.parse_object(json.loads(body))
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as exc:
+            quarantine('invalid_activity', event)
+            raise BadRequestError(f'{exc}') from exc
     if signer.id != activity.actor_id:
         quarantine('invalid_activity', event, activity.to_dict())
         raise UnauthorizedError(
diff --git a/lib/libactivitypub/src/libactivitypub/activity.py b/lib/libactivitypub/src/libactivitypub/activity.py
index 43645a4..4da4b35 100644
--- a/lib/libactivitypub/src/libactivitypub/activity.py
+++ b/lib/libactivitypub/src/libactivitypub/activity.py
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ def parse_object(obj: Dict[str, Any]) -> 'Activity':
             return Announce.parse_object(obj)
         if obj_type == 'Create':
             return Create.parse_object(obj)
+        if obj_type == 'Delete':
+            return Delete.parse_object(obj)
         if obj_type == 'Follow':
             return Follow.parse_object(obj)
         if obj_type == 'Like':
@@ -286,6 +288,52 @@ def resolve_objects(self, object_store: ObjectStore):
             resolve_object(self._underlying['object'], object_store)
 
 
+class Delete(Activity):
+    """Wraps a "Delete" activity.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, underlying: Dict[str, Any]):
+        """Wraps a given "Follow" activity object.
+
+        :raises ValueError: if ``underlying`` does not represent an activity.
+
+        :raises TypeError: if ``underlying`` does not represent a valid object,
+        or if ``underlying`` does not have ``object``.
+        """
+        super().__init__(underlying)
+        if 'object' not in underlying:
+            raise TypeError('invalid Delete activity: object is missing')
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def parse_object(obj: Dict[str, Any]) -> 'Delete':
+        """Parses a given "Delete" activity object.
+
+        :raises ValueError: if ``obj`` does not represent an activity.
+
+        :raises TypeError: if ``obj`` does not represent a "Delete" activity
+        object.
+        """
+        if obj.get('type') != 'Delete':
+            raise TypeError(f'type must be "Delete": {obj.get("type")}')
+        return Delete(obj)
+
+    @property
+    def object_id(self) -> str:
+        """ID of the (to be) deleted object.
+        """
+        return Reference(self._underlying['object']).id
+
+    def visit(self, visitor: 'ActivityVisitor'):
+        visitor.visit_delete(self)
+
+    def resolve_objects(self, object_store: ObjectStore):
+        """Resolves the referenced object.
+
+        Resolves ``object``.
+        """
+        super().resolve_objects(object_store)
+        resolve_object(self._underlying['object'], object_store)
+
+
 class Follow(Activity):
     """Wraps a "Follow" activity.
     """
@@ -514,6 +562,11 @@ def visit_create(self, create: Create):
         """
         LOGGER.debug('ignoring "Create": %s', create._underlying) # pylint: disable=protected-access
 
+    def visit_delete(self, delete: Delete):
+        """Processes a "Delete" activity.
+        """
+        LOGGER.debug('ignoring "Delete": %s', delete._underlying) # pylint: disable=protected-access
+
     def visit_follow(self, follow: Follow):
         """Processes a "Follow" activity.
         """