diff --git a/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceUpdateController.php b/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceUpdateController.php
--- a/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceUpdateController.php
+++ b/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceUpdateController.php
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
           $needed_capabilities[] = PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_EDIT;
         }
         break;
-      case ConpherenceUpdateActions::ADD_PERSON:
       case ConpherenceUpdateActions::METADATA:
         $needed_capabilities[] = PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_EDIT;
         break;
diff --git a/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceViewController.php b/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceViewController.php
--- a/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceViewController.php
+++ b/src/applications/conpherence/controller/ConpherenceViewController.php
@@ -147,9 +147,6 @@
     $user = $this->getRequest()->getUser();
 
     $participating = $conpherence->getParticipantIfExists($user->getPHID());
-    if (!$participating && $user->isLoggedIn()) {
-      return null;
-    }
     $draft = PhabricatorDraft::newFromUserAndKey(
       $user,
       $conpherence->getPHID());
diff --git a/src/applications/conpherence/editor/ConpherenceEditor.php b/src/applications/conpherence/editor/ConpherenceEditor.php
--- a/src/applications/conpherence/editor/ConpherenceEditor.php
+++ b/src/applications/conpherence/editor/ConpherenceEditor.php
@@ -343,11 +343,30 @@
 
         $actor_phid = $this->requireActor()->getPHID();
 
-        // You need CAN_EDIT to change participants other than yourself.
-        PhabricatorPolicyFilter::requireCapability(
-          $this->requireActor(),
-          $object,
-          PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_EDIT);
+        $is_join = (($add === array($actor_phid)) && !$rem);
+        $is_leave = (($rem === array($actor_phid)) && !$add);
+
+        if ($is_join) {
+          // You need to be able to see a thread to join it
+          PhabricatorPolicyFilter::requireCapability(
+            $this->requireActor(),
+            $object,
+            PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_VIEW);
+        } else if ($is_leave) {
+          // You don't need any capabilities to leave a conpherence thread.
+        } else if ($add) {
+          // You need to be able to see a thread to add people to it.
+          PhabricatorPolicyFilter::requireCapability(
+            $this->requireActor(),
+            $object,
+            PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_VIEW);
+        } else if ($rem) {
+          // You need CAN_EDIT to remove participants other than yourself.
+          PhabricatorPolicyFilter::requireCapability(
+            $this->requireActor(),
+            $object,
+            PhabricatorPolicyCapability::CAN_EDIT);
+        }
 
         break;
       case ConpherenceThreadTitleTransaction::TRANSACTIONTYPE: