diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index cd7f2d06..b0f7e651 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ commands:
         type: boolean
         default: false
     steps:
-    - run: cargo clippy <<^parameters.no_feature>>--no-default-features --features="${FEATURES}"<</parameters.no_feature>> --release -p <<parameters.package>> -- -D warnings
+    - run: cargo clippy <<^parameters.no_feature>>--no-default-features --features="${FEATURES}"<</parameters.no_feature>> --release -p <<parameters.package>> -- -D warnings -A clippy::needless_borrow
 
   run_with_coverage:
     description: run command with environment for coverage
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index bb180c95..f6a8bfcb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 - Upgrade Tantivy to 0.13.3 and lindera-tantivy to 0.7.1 (#878)
 - Run searcher on actor system (#870)
 - Use article title as its slug instead of capitalizing and inserting hyphens (#920)
+- Sign GET requests to other instances (#957)
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 122a9af2..0bd41319 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3038,6 +3038,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "heck",
  "hex",
  "hyper 0.12.36",
+ "once_cell",
  "openssl",
  "pulldown-cmark",
  "regex-syntax 0.6.25",
diff --git a/plume-cli/src/instance.rs b/plume-cli/src/instance.rs
index 8fa48060..35793639 100644
--- a/plume-cli/src/instance.rs
+++ b/plume-cli/src/instance.rs
@@ -68,4 +68,6 @@ fn new<'a>(args: &ArgMatches<'a>, conn: &Connection) {
         },
     )
     .expect("Couldn't save instance");
+    Instance::cache_local(conn);
+    Instance::create_local_instance_user(conn).expect("Couldn't save local instance user");
 }
diff --git a/plume-cli/src/main.rs b/plume-cli/src/main.rs
index 35248a32..3615c10d 100644
--- a/plume-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/plume-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ fn main() {
         e => e.map(|_| ()).unwrap(),
     }
     let conn = Conn::establish(CONFIG.database_url.as_str());
-    let _ = conn.as_ref().map(|conn| Instance::cache_local(conn));
+    let _ = conn.as_ref().map(Instance::cache_local);
 
     match matches.subcommand() {
         ("instance", Some(args)) => {
diff --git a/plume-common/Cargo.toml b/plume-common/Cargo.toml
index 06cf22f5..a67f748e 100644
--- a/plume-common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/plume-common/Cargo.toml
@@ -33,3 +33,6 @@ version = "0.4"
 default-features = false
 git = "https://git.joinplu.me/Plume/pulldown-cmark"
 branch = "bidi-plume"
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+once_cell = "1.5.2"
diff --git a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/inbox.rs b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/inbox.rs
index 0f88b5d9..48ba6c5f 100644
--- a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/inbox.rs
+++ b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/inbox.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-use reqwest::header::{HeaderValue, ACCEPT};
+use reqwest;
 use std::fmt::Debug;
 
+use super::{request, sign::Signer};
+
 /// Represents an ActivityPub inbox.
 ///
 /// It routes an incoming Activity through the registered handlers.
@@ -10,7 +12,50 @@ use std::fmt::Debug;
 /// ```rust
 /// # extern crate activitypub;
 /// # use activitypub::{actor::Person, activity::{Announce, Create}, object::Note};
+/// # use openssl::{hash::MessageDigest, pkey::PKey, rsa::Rsa};
+/// # use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 /// # use plume_common::activity_pub::inbox::*;
+/// # use plume_common::activity_pub::sign::{gen_keypair, Error as SignError, Result as SignResult, Signer};
+/// #
+/// # static MY_SIGNER: Lazy<MySigner> = Lazy::new(|| MySigner::new());
+/// #
+/// # struct MySigner {
+/// #     public_key: String,
+/// #     private_key: String,
+/// # }
+/// #
+/// # impl MySigner {
+/// #     fn new() -> Self {
+/// #         let (pub_key, priv_key) = gen_keypair();
+/// #         Self {
+/// #             public_key: String::from_utf8(pub_key).unwrap(),
+/// #             private_key: String::from_utf8(priv_key).unwrap(),
+/// #         }
+/// #     }
+/// # }
+/// #
+/// # impl Signer for MySigner {
+/// #     fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
+/// #         "mysigner".into()
+/// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> SignResult<Vec<u8>> {
+/// #         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::private_key_from_pem(self.private_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+/// #             .unwrap();
+/// #         let mut signer = openssl::sign::Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+/// #         signer.update(to_sign.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+/// #         signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(|_| SignError())
+/// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> SignResult<bool> {
+/// #         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+/// #             .unwrap();
+/// #         let mut verifier = openssl::sign::Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+/// #         verifier.update(data.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+/// #         verifier.verify(&signature).map_err(|_| SignError())
+/// #     }
+/// # }
+/// #
 /// # struct User;
 /// # impl FromId<()> for User {
 /// #     type Error = ();
@@ -23,6 +68,10 @@ use std::fmt::Debug;
 /// #     fn from_activity(_: &(), obj: Person) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 /// #         Ok(User)
 /// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+/// #         &*MY_SIGNER
+/// #     }
 /// # }
 /// # impl AsActor<&()> for User {
 /// #    fn get_inbox_url(&self) -> String {
@@ -42,6 +91,10 @@ use std::fmt::Debug;
 /// #     fn from_activity(_: &(), obj: Note) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 /// #         Ok(Message)
 /// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+/// #         &*MY_SIGNER
+/// #     }
 /// # }
 /// # impl AsObject<User, Create, &()> for Message {
 /// #     type Error = ();
@@ -311,35 +364,16 @@ pub trait FromId<C>: Sized {
         id: &str,
         proxy: Option<reqwest::Proxy>,
     ) -> Result<Self::Object, (Option<serde_json::Value>, Self::Error)> {
-        if let Some(proxy) = proxy {
-            reqwest::ClientBuilder::new().proxy(proxy)
-        } else {
-            reqwest::ClientBuilder::new()
-        }
-        .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
-        .build()
-        .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::DerefError.into()))?
-        .get(id)
-        .header(
-            ACCEPT,
-            HeaderValue::from_str(
-                &super::ap_accept_header()
-                    .into_iter()
-                    .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                    .join(", "),
-            )
-            .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::DerefError.into()))?,
-        )
-        .send()
-        .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::DerefError))
-        .and_then(|mut r| {
-            let json: serde_json::Value = r
-                .json()
-                .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::InvalidObject(None)))?;
-            serde_json::from_value(json.clone())
-                .map_err(|_| (Some(json), InboxError::InvalidObject(None)))
-        })
-        .map_err(|(json, e)| (json, e.into()))
+        request::get(id, Self::get_sender(), proxy)
+            .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::DerefError))
+            .and_then(|mut r| {
+                let json: serde_json::Value = r
+                    .json()
+                    .map_err(|_| (None, InboxError::InvalidObject(None)))?;
+                serde_json::from_value(json.clone())
+                    .map_err(|_| (Some(json), InboxError::InvalidObject(None)))
+            })
+            .map_err(|(json, e)| (json, e.into()))
     }
 
     /// Builds a `Self` from its ActivityPub representation
@@ -347,6 +381,8 @@ pub trait FromId<C>: Sized {
 
     /// Tries to find a `Self` with a given ID (`id`), using `ctx` (a database)
     fn from_db(ctx: &C, id: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error>;
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer;
 }
 
 /// Should be implemented by anything representing an ActivityPub actor.
@@ -385,6 +421,49 @@ pub trait AsActor<C> {
 /// # extern crate activitypub;
 /// # use activitypub::{activity::Create, actor::Person, object::Note};
 /// # use plume_common::activity_pub::inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId};
+/// # use plume_common::activity_pub::sign::{gen_keypair, Error as SignError, Result as SignResult, Signer};
+/// # use openssl::{hash::MessageDigest, pkey::PKey, rsa::Rsa};
+/// # use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
+/// #
+/// # static MY_SIGNER: Lazy<MySigner> = Lazy::new(|| MySigner::new());
+/// #
+/// # struct MySigner {
+/// #     public_key: String,
+/// #     private_key: String,
+/// # }
+/// #
+/// # impl MySigner {
+/// #     fn new() -> Self {
+/// #         let (pub_key, priv_key) = gen_keypair();
+/// #         Self {
+/// #             public_key: String::from_utf8(pub_key).unwrap(),
+/// #             private_key: String::from_utf8(priv_key).unwrap(),
+/// #         }
+/// #     }
+/// # }
+/// #
+/// # impl Signer for MySigner {
+/// #     fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
+/// #         "mysigner".into()
+/// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> SignResult<Vec<u8>> {
+/// #         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::private_key_from_pem(self.private_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+/// #             .unwrap();
+/// #         let mut signer = openssl::sign::Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+/// #         signer.update(to_sign.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+/// #         signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(|_| SignError())
+/// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> SignResult<bool> {
+/// #         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+/// #             .unwrap();
+/// #         let mut verifier = openssl::sign::Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+/// #         verifier.update(data.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+/// #         verifier.verify(&signature).map_err(|_| SignError())
+/// #     }
+/// # }
+/// #
 /// # struct Account;
 /// # impl FromId<()> for Account {
 /// #     type Error = ();
@@ -397,6 +476,10 @@ pub trait AsActor<C> {
 /// #     fn from_activity(_: &(), obj: Person) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 /// #         Ok(Account)
 /// #     }
+/// #
+/// #     fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+/// #         &*MY_SIGNER
+/// #     }
 /// # }
 /// # impl AsActor<()> for Account {
 /// #    fn get_inbox_url(&self) -> String {
@@ -420,6 +503,10 @@ pub trait AsActor<C> {
 ///     fn from_activity(_: &(), obj: Note) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
 ///         Ok(Message { text: obj.object_props.content_string().map_err(|_| ())? })
 ///     }
+///
+///     fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+///         &*MY_SIGNER
+///     }
 /// }
 ///
 /// impl AsObject<Account, Create, ()> for Message {
@@ -459,7 +546,51 @@ where
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use crate::activity_pub::sign::{
+        gen_keypair, Error as SignError, Result as SignResult, Signer,
+    };
     use activitypub::{activity::*, actor::Person, object::Note};
+    use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
+    use openssl::{hash::MessageDigest, pkey::PKey, rsa::Rsa};
+
+    static MY_SIGNER: Lazy<MySigner> = Lazy::new(|| MySigner::new());
+
+    struct MySigner {
+        public_key: String,
+        private_key: String,
+    }
+
+    impl MySigner {
+        fn new() -> Self {
+            let (pub_key, priv_key) = gen_keypair();
+            Self {
+                public_key: String::from_utf8(pub_key).unwrap(),
+                private_key: String::from_utf8(priv_key).unwrap(),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl Signer for MySigner {
+        fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
+            "mysigner".into()
+        }
+
+        fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> SignResult<Vec<u8>> {
+            let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::private_key_from_pem(self.private_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+                .unwrap();
+            let mut signer = openssl::sign::Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+            signer.update(to_sign.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+            signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(|_| SignError())
+        }
+
+        fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> SignResult<bool> {
+            let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
+                .unwrap();
+            let mut verifier = openssl::sign::Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
+            verifier.update(data.as_bytes()).unwrap();
+            verifier.verify(&signature).map_err(|_| SignError())
+        }
+    }
 
     struct MyActor;
     impl FromId<()> for MyActor {
@@ -473,6 +604,10 @@ mod tests {
         fn from_activity(_: &(), _obj: Person) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
             Ok(MyActor)
         }
+
+        fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+            &*MY_SIGNER
+        }
     }
 
     impl AsActor<&()> for MyActor {
@@ -497,6 +632,10 @@ mod tests {
         fn from_activity(_: &(), _obj: Note) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
             Ok(MyObject)
         }
+
+        fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+            &*MY_SIGNER
+        }
     }
     impl AsObject<MyActor, Create, &()> for MyObject {
         type Error = ();
@@ -601,6 +740,10 @@ mod tests {
         fn from_activity(_: &(), _obj: Person) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
             Err(())
         }
+
+        fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+            &*MY_SIGNER
+        }
     }
     impl AsActor<&()> for FailingActor {
         fn get_inbox_url(&self) -> String {
diff --git a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/request.rs b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/request.rs
index 73e6d6ee..4258bd7b 100644
--- a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/request.rs
+++ b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/request.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 use chrono::{offset::Utc, DateTime};
 use openssl::hash::{Hasher, MessageDigest};
-use reqwest::header::{HeaderMap, HeaderValue, ACCEPT, CONTENT_TYPE, DATE, USER_AGENT};
+use reqwest::{
+    header::{
+        HeaderMap, HeaderValue, InvalidHeaderValue, ACCEPT, CONTENT_TYPE, DATE, HOST, USER_AGENT,
+    },
+    ClientBuilder, Proxy, Response, Url, UrlError,
+};
 use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::time::SystemTime;
 use tracing::warn;
@@ -13,6 +18,24 @@ const PLUME_USER_AGENT: &str = concat!("Plume/", env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION"));
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Error();
 
+impl From<UrlError> for Error {
+    fn from(_err: UrlError) -> Self {
+        Error()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<InvalidHeaderValue> for Error {
+    fn from(_err: InvalidHeaderValue) -> Self {
+        Error()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<reqwest::Error> for Error {
+    fn from(_err: reqwest::Error) -> Self {
+        Error()
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct Digest(String);
 
 impl Digest {
@@ -118,8 +141,8 @@ type Path<'a> = &'a str;
 type Query<'a> = &'a str;
 type RequestTarget<'a> = (Method<'a>, Path<'a>, Option<Query<'a>>);
 
-pub fn signature<S: Signer>(
-    signer: &S,
+pub fn signature(
+    signer: &dyn Signer,
     headers: &HeaderMap,
     request_target: RequestTarget,
 ) -> Result<HeaderValue, Error> {
@@ -164,10 +187,35 @@ pub fn signature<S: Signer>(
     )).map_err(|_| Error())
 }
 
+pub fn get(url_str: &str, sender: &dyn Signer, proxy: Option<Proxy>) -> Result<Response, Error> {
+    let mut headers = headers();
+    let url = Url::parse(url_str)?;
+    if !url.has_host() {
+        return Err(Error());
+    }
+    let host_header_value = HeaderValue::from_str(url.host_str().expect("Unreachable"))?;
+    headers.insert(HOST, host_header_value);
+    if let Some(proxy) = proxy {
+        ClientBuilder::new().proxy(proxy)
+    } else {
+        ClientBuilder::new()
+    }
+    .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
+    .build()?
+    .get(url_str)
+    .headers(headers.clone())
+    .header(
+        "Signature",
+        signature(sender, &headers, ("get", url.path(), url.query()))?,
+    )
+    .send()
+    .map_err(|_| Error())
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use super::{signature, Error};
-    use crate::activity_pub::sign::{gen_keypair, Signer};
+    use super::signature;
+    use crate::activity_pub::sign::{gen_keypair, Error, Result, Signer};
     use openssl::{hash::MessageDigest, pkey::PKey, rsa::Rsa};
     use reqwest::header::HeaderMap;
 
@@ -187,13 +235,11 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     impl Signer for MySigner {
-        type Error = Error;
-
         fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
             "mysigner".into()
         }
 
-        fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Self::Error> {
+        fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
             let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::private_key_from_pem(self.private_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
                 .unwrap();
             let mut signer = openssl::sign::Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
@@ -201,7 +247,7 @@ mod tests {
             signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(|_| Error())
         }
 
-        fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool, Self::Error> {
+        fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool> {
             let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref()).unwrap())
                 .unwrap();
             let mut verifier = openssl::sign::Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key).unwrap();
diff --git a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/sign.rs b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/sign.rs
index c97cb5dd..22aaf9d6 100644
--- a/plume-common/src/activity_pub/sign.rs
+++ b/plume-common/src/activity_pub/sign.rs
@@ -19,20 +19,25 @@ pub fn gen_keypair() -> (Vec<u8>, Vec<u8>) {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Error();
+pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, Error>;
+
+impl From<openssl::error::ErrorStack> for Error {
+    fn from(_: openssl::error::ErrorStack) -> Self {
+        Self()
+    }
+}
 
 pub trait Signer {
-    type Error;
-
     fn get_key_id(&self) -> String;
 
     /// Sign some data with the signer keypair
-    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, Self::Error>;
+    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>>;
     /// Verify if the signature is valid
-    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool, Self::Error>;
+    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool>;
 }
 
 pub trait Signable {
-    fn sign<T>(&mut self, creator: &T) -> Result<&mut Self, Error>
+    fn sign<T>(&mut self, creator: &T) -> Result<&mut Self>
     where
         T: Signer;
     fn verify<T>(self, creator: &T) -> bool
@@ -46,7 +51,7 @@ pub trait Signable {
 }
 
 impl Signable for serde_json::Value {
-    fn sign<T: Signer>(&mut self, creator: &T) -> Result<&mut serde_json::Value, Error> {
+    fn sign<T: Signer>(&mut self, creator: &T) -> Result<&mut serde_json::Value> {
         let creation_date = Utc::now().to_rfc3339();
         let mut options = json!({
             "type": "RsaSignature2017",
diff --git a/plume-models/src/blogs.rs b/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
index 4043c85e..9d0839ae 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/blogs.rs
@@ -443,6 +443,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Blog {
             },
         )
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn sign::Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsActor<&PlumeRocket> for Blog {
@@ -462,24 +466,22 @@ impl AsActor<&PlumeRocket> for Blog {
 }
 
 impl sign::Signer for Blog {
-    type Error = Error;
-
     fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
         format!("{}#main-key", self.ap_url)
     }
 
-    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        let key = self.get_keypair()?;
+    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> sign::Result<Vec<u8>> {
+        let key = self.get_keypair().map_err(|_| sign::Error())?;
         let mut signer = Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key)?;
         signer.update(to_sign.as_bytes())?;
-        signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(Error::from)
+        signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(sign::Error::from)
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool> {
+    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> sign::Result<bool> {
         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref())?)?;
         let mut verifier = Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key)?;
         verifier.update(data.as_bytes())?;
-        verifier.verify(signature).map_err(Error::from)
+        verifier.verify(signature).map_err(sign::Error::from)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/plume-models/src/comments.rs b/plume-models/src/comments.rs
index d92ab6c0..0809aab5 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/comments.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/comments.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl, SaveChangesDsl};
 use plume_common::{
     activity_pub::{
         inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId},
+        sign::Signer,
         Id, IntoId, PUBLIC_VISIBILITY,
     },
     utils,
@@ -328,6 +329,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Comment {
         comm.notify(conn)?;
         Ok(comm)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, Create, &DbConn> for Comment {
diff --git a/plume-models/src/follows.rs b/plume-models/src/follows.rs
index c1669e36..9450b59b 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/follows.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/follows.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crate::{
-    ap_url, db_conn::DbConn, notifications::*, schema::follows, users::User, Connection, Error,
-    Result, CONFIG,
+    ap_url, db_conn::DbConn, instance::Instance, notifications::*, schema::follows, users::User,
+    Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG,
 };
 use activitypub::activity::{Accept, Follow as FollowAct, Undo};
 use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl, SaveChangesDsl};
@@ -183,6 +183,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Follow {
         .map_err(|(_, e)| e)?;
         Follow::accept_follow(conn, &actor, &target, follow, actor.id, target.id)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, Undo, &DbConn> for Follow {
diff --git a/plume-models/src/instance.rs b/plume-models/src/instance.rs
index 80babed5..86cb3d46 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/instance.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/instance.rs
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ use crate::{
     medias::Media,
     safe_string::SafeString,
     schema::{instances, users},
-    users::{Role, User},
+    users::{NewUser, Role, User},
     Connection, Error, Result,
 };
 use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
-use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
+use diesel::{self, result::Error::NotFound, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
+use once_cell::sync::OnceCell;
 use plume_common::utils::md_to_html;
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ lazy_static! {
     static ref LOCAL_INSTANCE: RwLock<Option<Instance>> = RwLock::new(None);
 }
 
+const LOCAL_INSTANCE_USERNAME: &str = "__instance__";
+static LOCAL_INSTANCE_USER: OnceCell<User> = OnceCell::new();
+
 impl Instance {
     pub fn set_local(self) {
         LOCAL_INSTANCE.write().unwrap().replace(self);
@@ -76,6 +80,42 @@ impl Instance {
             .map_err(Error::from)
     }
 
+    pub fn create_local_instance_user(conn: &Connection) -> Result<User> {
+        let instance = Instance::get_local()?;
+        let email = format!("{}@{}", LOCAL_INSTANCE_USERNAME, &instance.public_domain);
+        NewUser::new_local(
+            conn,
+            LOCAL_INSTANCE_USERNAME.into(),
+            instance.public_domain,
+            Role::Instance,
+            "Local instance",
+            email,
+            None,
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_local_instance_user() -> Option<&'static User> {
+        LOCAL_INSTANCE_USER.get()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_local_instance_user_uncached(conn: &Connection) -> Result<User> {
+        users::table
+            .filter(users::role.eq(3))
+            .first(conn)
+            .or_else(|err| match err {
+                NotFound => Self::create_local_instance_user(conn),
+                _ => Err(Error::Db(err)),
+            })
+    }
+
+    pub fn cache_local_instance_user(conn: &Connection) {
+        let _ = LOCAL_INSTANCE_USER.get_or_init(|| {
+            Self::get_local_instance_user_uncached(conn)
+                .or_else(|_| Self::create_local_instance_user(conn))
+                .expect("Failed to cache local instance user")
+        });
+    }
+
     pub fn page(conn: &Connection, (min, max): (i32, i32)) -> Result<Vec<Instance>> {
         instances::table
             .order(instances::public_domain.asc())
@@ -304,6 +344,7 @@ pub(crate) mod tests {
         })
         .collect();
         Instance::cache_local(conn);
+        Instance::cache_local_instance_user(conn);
         res
     }
 
diff --git a/plume-models/src/lib.rs b/plume-models/src/lib.rs
index bd1474ec..16d3a159 100755
--- a/plume-models/src/lib.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ extern crate serde_json;
 extern crate tantivy;
 
 use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
-use plume_common::activity_pub::inbox::InboxError;
+use plume_common::activity_pub::{inbox::InboxError, request, sign};
 use posts::PostEvent;
 use riker::actors::{channel, ActorSystem, ChannelRef, SystemBuilder};
 use users::UserEvent;
@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@ impl From<openssl::error::ErrorStack> for Error {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<sign::Error> for Error {
+    fn from(_: sign::Error) -> Self {
+        Error::Signature
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<diesel::result::Error> for Error {
     fn from(err: diesel::result::Error) -> Self {
         Error::Db(err)
@@ -151,6 +157,12 @@ impl From<InboxError<Error>> for Error {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<request::Error> for Error {
+    fn from(_err: request::Error) -> Error {
+        Error::Request
+    }
+}
+
 pub type Result<T> = std::result::Result<T, Error>;
 
 /// Adds a function to a model, that returns the first
diff --git a/plume-models/src/likes.rs b/plume-models/src/likes.rs
index b14e7c38..fa092af0 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/likes.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/likes.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 use crate::{
-    db_conn::DbConn, notifications::*, posts::Post, schema::likes, timeline::*, users::User,
-    Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG,
+    db_conn::DbConn, instance::Instance, notifications::*, posts::Post, schema::likes, timeline::*,
+    users::User, Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG,
 };
 use activitypub::activity;
 use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
 use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
 use plume_common::activity_pub::{
     inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId},
+    sign::Signer,
     Id, IntoId, PUBLIC_VISIBILITY,
 };
 
@@ -137,6 +138,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Like {
         res.notify(conn)?;
         Ok(res)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, activity::Undo, &DbConn> for Like {
diff --git a/plume-models/src/medias.rs b/plume-models/src/medias.rs
index 5be9bc70..68cb52c4 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/medias.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/medias.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use askama_escape::escape;
 use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
 use guid_create::GUID;
 use plume_common::{
-    activity_pub::{inbox::FromId, Id},
+    activity_pub::{inbox::FromId, request, Id},
     utils::MediaProcessor,
 };
 use std::{
@@ -220,13 +220,11 @@ impl Media {
 
         let mut dest = fs::File::create(path.clone())?;
         // TODO: conditional GET
-        if let Some(proxy) = CONFIG.proxy() {
-            reqwest::ClientBuilder::new().proxy(proxy.clone()).build()?
-        } else {
-            reqwest::Client::new()
-        }
-        .get(remote_url.as_str())
-        .send()?
+        request::get(
+            remote_url.as_str(),
+            User::get_sender(),
+            CONFIG.proxy().cloned(),
+        )?
         .copy_to(&mut dest)?;
 
         Media::find_by_file_path(conn, path.to_str().ok_or(Error::InvalidValue)?)
diff --git a/plume-models/src/posts.rs b/plume-models/src/posts.rs
index c53f20c1..9a385db9 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/posts.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/posts.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use once_cell::sync::Lazy;
 use plume_common::{
     activity_pub::{
         inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId},
+        sign::Signer,
         Hashtag, Id, IntoId, Licensed, Source, PUBLIC_VISIBILITY,
     },
     utils::{iri_percent_encode_seg, md_to_html},
@@ -759,6 +760,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Post {
 
         Ok(post)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, Create, &DbConn> for Post {
@@ -830,6 +835,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for PostUpdate {
             tags: updated.object.object_props.tag,
         })
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, Update, &DbConn> for PostUpdate {
diff --git a/plume-models/src/reshares.rs b/plume-models/src/reshares.rs
index eec86a1e..58400196 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/reshares.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/reshares.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 use crate::{
-    db_conn::DbConn, notifications::*, posts::Post, schema::reshares, timeline::*, users::User,
-    Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG,
+    db_conn::DbConn, instance::Instance, notifications::*, posts::Post, schema::reshares,
+    timeline::*, users::User, Connection, Error, Result, CONFIG,
 };
 use activitypub::activity::{Announce, Undo};
 use chrono::NaiveDateTime;
 use diesel::{self, ExpressionMethods, QueryDsl, RunQueryDsl};
 use plume_common::activity_pub::{
     inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId},
+    sign::Signer,
     Id, IntoId, PUBLIC_VISIBILITY,
 };
 
@@ -162,6 +163,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for Reshare {
         res.notify(conn)?;
         Ok(res)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsObject<User, Undo, &DbConn> for Reshare {
diff --git a/plume-models/src/users.rs b/plume-models/src/users.rs
index 0b40d63f..8c42701b 100644
--- a/plume-models/src/users.rs
+++ b/plume-models/src/users.rs
@@ -22,17 +22,13 @@ use openssl::{
 };
 use plume_common::{
     activity_pub::{
-        ap_accept_header,
         inbox::{AsActor, AsObject, FromId},
-        sign::{gen_keypair, Signer},
+        request::get,
+        sign::{gen_keypair, Error as SignError, Result as SignResult, Signer},
         ActivityStream, ApSignature, Id, IntoId, PublicKey, PUBLIC_VISIBILITY,
     },
     utils,
 };
-use reqwest::{
-    header::{HeaderValue, ACCEPT},
-    ClientBuilder,
-};
 use riker::actors::{Publish, Tell};
 use rocket::{
     outcome::IntoOutcome,
@@ -52,6 +48,7 @@ pub enum Role {
     Admin = 0,
     Moderator = 1,
     Normal = 2,
+    Instance = 3,
 }
 
 #[derive(Queryable, Identifiable, Clone, Debug, AsChangeset)]
@@ -78,6 +75,7 @@ pub struct User {
     pub summary_html: SafeString,
     /// 0 = admin
     /// 1 = moderator
+    /// 3 = local instance
     /// anything else = normal user
     pub role: i32,
     pub preferred_theme: Option<String>,
@@ -229,20 +227,7 @@ impl User {
     }
 
     fn fetch(url: &str) -> Result<CustomPerson> {
-        let mut res = ClientBuilder::new()
-            .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
-            .build()?
-            .get(url)
-            .header(
-                ACCEPT,
-                HeaderValue::from_str(
-                    &ap_accept_header()
-                        .into_iter()
-                        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                        .join(", "),
-                )?,
-            )
-            .send()?;
+        let mut res = get(url, Self::get_sender(), CONFIG.proxy().cloned())?;
         let text = &res.text()?;
         // without this workaround, publicKey is not correctly deserialized
         let ap_sign = serde_json::from_str::<ApSignature>(text)?;
@@ -261,7 +246,7 @@ impl User {
                 conn,
                 json.object
                     .object_props
-                    .icon_image()?
+                    .icon_image()? // FIXME: Fails when icon is not set
                     .object_props
                     .url_string()?,
                 self,
@@ -469,20 +454,7 @@ impl User {
         Ok(ActivityStream::new(coll))
     }
     fn fetch_outbox_page<T: Activity>(&self, url: &str) -> Result<(Vec<T>, Option<String>)> {
-        let mut res = ClientBuilder::new()
-            .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
-            .build()?
-            .get(url)
-            .header(
-                ACCEPT,
-                HeaderValue::from_str(
-                    &ap_accept_header()
-                        .into_iter()
-                        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                        .join(", "),
-                )?,
-            )
-            .send()?;
+        let mut res = get(url, Self::get_sender(), CONFIG.proxy().cloned())?;
         let text = &res.text()?;
         let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(text)?;
         let items = json["items"]
@@ -496,20 +468,11 @@ impl User {
         Ok((items, next))
     }
     pub fn fetch_outbox<T: Activity>(&self) -> Result<Vec<T>> {
-        let mut res = ClientBuilder::new()
-            .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
-            .build()?
-            .get(&self.outbox_url[..])
-            .header(
-                ACCEPT,
-                HeaderValue::from_str(
-                    &ap_accept_header()
-                        .into_iter()
-                        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                        .join(", "),
-                )?,
-            )
-            .send()?;
+        let mut res = get(
+            &self.outbox_url[..],
+            Self::get_sender(),
+            CONFIG.proxy().cloned(),
+        )?;
         let text = &res.text()?;
         let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(text)?;
         if let Some(first) = json.get("first") {
@@ -541,20 +504,11 @@ impl User {
     }
 
     pub fn fetch_followers_ids(&self) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
-        let mut res = ClientBuilder::new()
-            .connect_timeout(Some(std::time::Duration::from_secs(5)))
-            .build()?
-            .get(&self.followers_endpoint[..])
-            .header(
-                ACCEPT,
-                HeaderValue::from_str(
-                    &ap_accept_header()
-                        .into_iter()
-                        .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                        .join(", "),
-                )?,
-            )
-            .send()?;
+        let mut res = get(
+            &self.followers_endpoint[..],
+            Self::get_sender(),
+            CONFIG.proxy().cloned(),
+        )?;
         let text = &res.text()?;
         let json: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_str(text)?;
         Ok(json["items"]
@@ -1037,6 +991,10 @@ impl FromId<DbConn> for User {
 
         Ok(user)
     }
+
+    fn get_sender() -> &'static dyn Signer {
+        Instance::get_local_instance_user().expect("Failed to local instance user")
+    }
 }
 
 impl AsActor<&DbConn> for User {
@@ -1069,24 +1027,22 @@ impl AsObject<User, Delete, &DbConn> for User {
 }
 
 impl Signer for User {
-    type Error = Error;
-
     fn get_key_id(&self) -> String {
         format!("{}#main-key", self.ap_url)
     }
 
-    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        let key = self.get_keypair()?;
+    fn sign(&self, to_sign: &str) -> SignResult<Vec<u8>> {
+        let key = self.get_keypair().map_err(|_| SignError())?;
         let mut signer = sign::Signer::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key)?;
         signer.update(to_sign.as_bytes())?;
-        signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(Error::from)
+        signer.sign_to_vec().map_err(SignError::from)
     }
 
-    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> Result<bool> {
+    fn verify(&self, data: &str, signature: &[u8]) -> SignResult<bool> {
         let key = PKey::from_rsa(Rsa::public_key_from_pem(self.public_key.as_ref())?)?;
         let mut verifier = sign::Verifier::new(MessageDigest::sha256(), &key)?;
         verifier.update(data.as_bytes())?;
-        verifier.verify(signature).map_err(Error::from)
+        verifier.verify(signature).map_err(SignError::from)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 243a0b91..58cb3abe 100755
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ fn init_pool() -> Option<DbPool> {
         builder = builder.max_size(max_size);
     };
     let pool = builder.build(manager).ok()?;
-    Instance::cache_local(&pool.get().unwrap());
+    let conn = pool.get().unwrap();
+    Instance::cache_local(&conn);
+    let _ = Instance::create_local_instance_user(&conn);
+    Instance::cache_local_instance_user(&conn);
     Some(pool)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/routes/blogs.rs b/src/routes/blogs.rs
index df4da910..07a8e8f1 100644
--- a/src/routes/blogs.rs
+++ b/src/routes/blogs.rs
@@ -390,6 +390,7 @@ mod tests {
         posts::{NewPost, Post},
         safe_string::SafeString,
         users::{NewUser, User, AUTH_COOKIE},
+        Connection as Conn, CONFIG,
     };
     use rocket::{
         http::{Cookie, Cookies, SameSite},
@@ -398,6 +399,22 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn edit_link_within_post_card() {
+        let conn = Conn::establish(CONFIG.database_url.as_str()).unwrap();
+        Instance::insert(
+            &conn,
+            NewInstance {
+                public_domain: "example.org".to_string(),
+                name: "Plume".to_string(),
+                local: true,
+                long_description: SafeString::new(""),
+                short_description: SafeString::new(""),
+                default_license: "CC-BY-SA".to_string(),
+                open_registrations: true,
+                short_description_html: String::new(),
+                long_description_html: String::new(),
+            },
+        )
+        .unwrap();
         let rocket = init_rocket();
         let client = Client::new(rocket).expect("valid rocket instance");
         let dbpool = client.rocket().state::<DbPool>().unwrap();