diff --git a/content.py b/content.py
index 0782d0ed..44113ac5 100644
--- a/content.py
+++ b/content.py
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ def htmlReplaceQuoteMarks(content: str) -> str:
     return newContent
 
 
-def dangerousMarkup(content: str) -> bool:
+def dangerousMarkup(content: str, allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> bool:
     """Returns true if the given content contains dangerous html markup
     """
     if '<' not in content:
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ def dangerousMarkup(content: str) -> bool:
     if '>' not in content:
         return False
     contentSections = content.split('<')
-    invalidPartials = ('127.0.', '192.168', '10.0.')
+    invalidPartials = ()
+    if not allowLocalNetworkAccess:
+        invalidPartials = ('127.0.', '192.168', '10.0.')
     invalidStrings = ('script', 'canvas', 'style', 'abbr',
                       'frame', 'iframe', 'html', 'body',
                       'hr')
@@ -181,7 +183,7 @@ def dangerousMarkup(content: str) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
-def dangerousCSS(filename: str) -> bool:
+def dangerousCSS(filename: str, allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> bool:
     """Returns true is the css file contains code which
     can create security problems
     """
@@ -199,7 +201,7 @@ def dangerousCSS(filename: str) -> bool:
 
         # an attacker can include html inside of the css
         # file as a comment and this may then be run from the html
-        if dangerousMarkup(content):
+        if dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess):
             return True
     return False
 
diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index 4fd08b73..4c1b7914 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -2917,7 +2917,10 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             if nickname == adminNickname:
                 if fields.get('editedAbout'):
                     aboutStr = fields['editedAbout']
-                    if not dangerousMarkup(aboutStr):
+                    allowLocalNetworkAccess = \
+                        self.server.allowLocalNetworkAccess
+                    if not dangerousMarkup(aboutStr,
+                                           allowLocalNetworkAccess):
                         aboutFile = open(aboutFilename, "w+")
                         if aboutFile:
                             aboutFile.write(aboutStr)
@@ -2928,7 +2931,10 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
 
                 if fields.get('editedTOS'):
                     TOSStr = fields['editedTOS']
-                    if not dangerousMarkup(TOSStr):
+                    allowLocalNetworkAccess = \
+                        self.server.allowLocalNetworkAccess
+                    if not dangerousMarkup(TOSStr,
+                                           allowLocalNetworkAccess):
                         TOSFile = open(TOSFilename, "w+")
                         if TOSFile:
                             TOSFile.write(TOSStr)
@@ -3655,7 +3661,8 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                     if fields.get('themeDropdown'):
                         setTheme(baseDir,
                                  fields['themeDropdown'],
-                                 domain)
+                                 domain.
+                                 self.server.allowLocalNetworkAccess)
                         self.server.showPublishAsIcon = \
                             getConfigParam(self.server.baseDir,
                                            'showPublishAsIcon')
@@ -4014,7 +4021,8 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                                               '.etag')
                             currTheme = getTheme(baseDir)
                             if currTheme:
-                                setTheme(baseDir, currTheme, domain)
+                                setTheme(baseDir, currTheme, domain,
+                                         self.server.allowLocalNetworkAccess)
                                 self.server.showPublishAsIcon = \
                                     getConfigParam(self.server.baseDir,
                                                    'showPublishAsIcon')
@@ -12374,7 +12382,8 @@ def loadTokens(baseDir: str, tokensDict: {}, tokensLookup: {}) -> None:
                 tokensLookup[token] = nickname
 
 
-def runDaemon(maxFeedItemSizeKb: int,
+def runDaemon(allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool,
+              maxFeedItemSizeKb: int,
               publishButtonAtTop: bool,
               rssIconAtTop: bool,
               iconsAsButtons: bool,
@@ -12439,6 +12448,10 @@ def runDaemon(maxFeedItemSizeKb: int,
         return False
 
     httpd.unitTest = unitTest
+    httpd.allowLocalNetworkAccess = allowLocalNetworkAccess
+    if unitTest:
+        # unit tests are run on the local network with LAN addresses
+        httpd.allowLocalNetworkAccess = True
     httpd.YTReplacementDomain = YTReplacementDomain
 
     # newswire storing rss feeds
@@ -12702,7 +12715,8 @@ def runDaemon(maxFeedItemSizeKb: int,
                               httpd.YTReplacementDomain,
                               httpd.showPublishedDateOnly,
                               httpd.allowNewsFollowers,
-                              httpd.maxFollowers), daemon=True)
+                              httpd.maxFollowers,
+                              httpd.allowLocalNetworkAccess), daemon=True)
 
     print('Creating scheduled post thread')
     httpd.thrPostSchedule = \
diff --git a/epicyon.py b/epicyon.py
index 9bc1144e..edc7fe20 100644
--- a/epicyon.py
+++ b/epicyon.py
@@ -249,6 +249,13 @@ parser.add_argument("--publishButtonAtTop",
                     const=True, default=False,
                     help="Whether to show the publish button at the top of " +
                     "the newswire column")
+parser.add_argument("--allowLocalNetworkAccess",
+                    dest='allowLocalNetworkAccess',
+                    type=str2bool, nargs='?',
+                    const=True, default=False,
+                    help="Whether to allow access to local network " +
+                    "addresses. This might be useful when deploying in " +
+                    "a mesh network")
 parser.add_argument("--noapproval", type=str2bool, nargs='?',
                     const=True, default=False,
                     help="Allow followers without approval")
@@ -2059,11 +2066,12 @@ if YTDomain:
     if '.' in YTDomain:
         args.YTReplacementDomain = YTDomain
 
-if setTheme(baseDir, themeName, domain):
+if setTheme(baseDir, themeName, domain, args.allowLocalNetworkAccess):
     print('Theme set to ' + themeName)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    runDaemon(args.maxFeedItemSizeKb,
+    runDaemon(args.allowLocalNetworkAccess,
+              args.maxFeedItemSizeKb,
               args.publishButtonAtTop,
               args.rssIconAtTop,
               args.iconsAsButtons,
diff --git a/inbox.py b/inbox.py
index 42616d80..258e16e1 100644
--- a/inbox.py
+++ b/inbox.py
@@ -1565,7 +1565,8 @@ def estimateNumberOfEmoji(content: str) -> int:
 
 
 def validPostContent(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
-                     messageJson: {}, maxMentions: int, maxEmoji: int) -> bool:
+                     messageJson: {}, maxMentions: int, maxEmoji: int,
+                     allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> bool:
     """Is the content of a received post valid?
     Check for bad html
     Check for hellthreads
@@ -1600,7 +1601,8 @@ def validPostContent(baseDir: str, nickname: str, domain: str,
                   messageJson['object']['content']):
         return True
 
-    if dangerousMarkup(messageJson['object']['content']):
+    if dangerousMarkup(messageJson['object']['content'],
+                       allowLocalNetworkAccess):
         if messageJson['object'].get('id'):
             print('REJECT ARBITRARY HTML: ' + messageJson['object']['id'])
         print('REJECT ARBITRARY HTML: bad string in post - ' +
@@ -2030,7 +2032,8 @@ def inboxAfterInitial(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
                       maxReplies: int, allowDeletion: bool,
                       maxMentions: int, maxEmoji: int, translate: {},
                       unitTest: bool, YTReplacementDomain: str,
-                      showPublishedDateOnly: bool) -> bool:
+                      showPublishedDateOnly: bool,
+                      allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> bool:
     """ Anything which needs to be done after initial checks have passed
     """
     actor = keyId
@@ -2155,7 +2158,8 @@ def inboxAfterInitial(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
 
     nickname = handle.split('@')[0]
     if validPostContent(baseDir, nickname, domain,
-                        postJsonObject, maxMentions, maxEmoji):
+                        postJsonObject, maxMentions, maxEmoji,
+                        allowLocalNetworkAccess):
 
         if postJsonObject.get('object'):
             jsonObj = postJsonObject['object']
@@ -2438,7 +2442,7 @@ def runInboxQueue(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
                   YTReplacementDomain: str,
                   showPublishedDateOnly: bool,
                   allowNewsFollowers: bool,
-                  maxFollowers: int) -> None:
+                  maxFollowers: int, allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> None:
     """Processes received items and moves them to the appropriate
     directories
     """
@@ -2853,7 +2857,8 @@ def runInboxQueue(recentPostsCache: {}, maxRecentPosts: int,
                               maxMentions, maxEmoji,
                               translate, unitTest,
                               YTReplacementDomain,
-                              showPublishedDateOnly)
+                              showPublishedDateOnly,
+                              allowLocalNetworkAccess)
             if debug:
                 pprint(queueJson['post'])
 
diff --git a/newsdaemon.py b/newsdaemon.py
index 7b9b4343..89986617 100644
--- a/newsdaemon.py
+++ b/newsdaemon.py
@@ -469,7 +469,8 @@ def convertRSStoActivityPub(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                             personCache: {},
                             federationList: [],
                             sendThreads: [], postLog: [],
-                            maxMirroredArticles: int) -> None:
+                            maxMirroredArticles: int,
+                            allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> None:
     """Converts rss items in a newswire into posts
     """
     if not newswire:
@@ -512,7 +513,8 @@ def convertRSStoActivityPub(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
 
         rssTitle = removeControlCharacters(item[0])
         url = item[1]
-        if dangerousMarkup(url) or dangerousMarkup(rssTitle):
+        if dangerousMarkup(url, allowLocalNetworkAccess) or \
+           dangerousMarkup(rssTitle, allowLocalNetworkAccess):
             continue
         rssDescription = ''
 
@@ -537,7 +539,8 @@ def convertRSStoActivityPub(baseDir: str, httpPrefix: str,
                 postUrl += '/index.html'
 
         # add the off-site link to the description
-        if rssDescription and not dangerousMarkup(rssDescription):
+        if rssDescription and \
+           not dangerousMarkup(rssDescription, allowLocalNetworkAccess):
             rssDescription += \
                 '<br><a href="' + postUrl + '">' + \
                 translate['Read more...'] + '</a>'
@@ -743,7 +746,8 @@ def runNewswireDaemon(baseDir: str, httpd,
                                 httpd.federationList,
                                 httpd.sendThreads,
                                 httpd.postLog,
-                                httpd.maxMirroredArticles)
+                                httpd.maxMirroredArticles,
+                                httpd.allowLocalNetworkAccess)
         print('Newswire feed converted to ActivityPub')
 
         if httpd.maxNewsPosts > 0:
diff --git a/tests.py b/tests.py
index 893fc036..c2de44e8 100644
--- a/tests.py
+++ b/tests.py
@@ -291,8 +291,10 @@ def createServerAlice(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     maxEmoji = 10
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
+    allowLocalNetworkAccess = True
     print('Server running: Alice')
-    runDaemon(2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
+    runDaemon(allowLocalNetworkAccess,
+              2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
               0, 100, 1024, 5, False,
               0, False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
@@ -356,8 +358,10 @@ def createServerBob(path: str, domain: str, port: int,
     maxEmoji = 10
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
+    allowLocalNetworkAccess = True
     print('Server running: Bob')
-    runDaemon(2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
+    runDaemon(allowLocalNetworkAccess,
+              2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
               0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0,
               False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
@@ -395,8 +399,10 @@ def createServerEve(path: str, domain: str, port: int, federationList: [],
     maxEmoji = 10
     onionDomain = None
     i2pDomain = None
+    allowLocalNetworkAccess = True
     print('Server running: Eve')
-    runDaemon(2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
+    runDaemon(allowLocalNetworkAccess,
+              2048, False, True, False, False, True, 10, False,
               0, 100, 1024, 5, False, 0,
               False, 1, False, False, False,
               5, True, True, 'en', __version__,
@@ -1941,58 +1947,59 @@ def testRemoveHtml():
 
 def testDangerousMarkup():
     print('testDangerousMarkup')
+    allowLocalNetworkAccess = False
     content = '<p>This is a valid message</p>'
-    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = 'This is a valid message without markup'
-    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This is a valid-looking message. But wait... ' + \
         '<script>document.getElementById("concentrated")' + \
         '.innerHTML = "evil";</script></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This html contains more than you expected... ' + \
         '<script language="javascript">document.getElementById("abc")' + \
         '.innerHTML = "def";</script></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This is a valid-looking message. But wait... ' + \
         '<script src="https://evilsite/payload.js" /></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message embeds an evil frame.' + \
         '<iframe src="somesite"></iframe></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message tries to obfuscate an evil frame.' + \
         '<  iframe     src = "somesite"></    iframe  ></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message is not necessarily evil, but annoying.' + \
         '<hr><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><hr><hr></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message contans a ' + \
         '<a href="https://validsite/index.html">valid link.</a></p>'
-    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message contans a ' + \
         '<a href="https://validsite/iframe.html">' + \
         'valid link having invalid but harmless name.</a></p>'
-    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message which <a href="127.0.0.1:8736">' + \
         'tries to access the local network</a></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>This message which <a href="http://192.168.5.10:7235">' + \
         'tries to access the local network</a></p>'
-    assert(dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
     content = '<p>127.0.0.1 This message which does not access ' + \
         'the local network</a></p>'
-    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content))
+    assert(not dangerousMarkup(content, allowLocalNetworkAccess))
 
 
 def runHtmlReplaceQuoteMarks():
diff --git a/theme.py b/theme.py
index b8dc37e8..eec78146 100644
--- a/theme.py
+++ b/theme.py
@@ -183,7 +183,8 @@ def setCSSparam(css: str, param: str, value: str) -> str:
 
 
 def setThemeFromDict(baseDir: str, name: str,
-                     themeParams: {}, bgParams: {}) -> None:
+                     themeParams: {}, bgParams: {},
+                     allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> None:
     """Uses a dictionary to set a theme
     """
     if name:
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ def setThemeFromDict(baseDir: str, name: str,
 
         # Ensure that any custom CSS is mostly harmless.
         # If not then just use the defaults
-        if dangerousCSS(templateFilename) or \
+        if dangerousCSS(templateFilename, allowLocalNetworkAccess) or \
            not os.path.isfile(templateFilename):
             # use default css
             templateFilename = baseDir + '/epicyon-' + filename
@@ -355,7 +356,8 @@ def setCustomFont(baseDir: str):
 
 
 def readVariablesFile(baseDir: str, themeName: str,
-                      variablesFile: str) -> None:
+                      variablesFile: str,
+                      allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> None:
     """Reads variables from a file in the theme directory
     """
     themeParams = loadJson(variablesFile, 0)
@@ -367,10 +369,11 @@ def readVariablesFile(baseDir: str, themeName: str,
         "options": "jpg",
         "search": "jpg"
     }
-    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, themeName, themeParams, bgParams)
+    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, themeName, themeParams, bgParams,
+                     allowLocalNetworkAccess)
 
 
-def setThemeDefault(baseDir: str):
+def setThemeDefault(baseDir: str, allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool):
     name = 'default'
     removeTheme(baseDir)
     setThemeInConfig(baseDir, name)
@@ -390,10 +393,11 @@ def setThemeDefault(baseDir: str):
         "banner-height-mobile": "10vh",
         "search-banner-height-mobile": "15vh"
     }
-    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, name, themeParams, bgParams)
+    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, name, themeParams, bgParams,
+                     allowLocalNetworkAccess)
 
 
-def setThemeHighVis(baseDir: str):
+def setThemeHighVis(baseDir: str, allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool):
     name = 'highvis'
     themeParams = {
         "newswire-publish-icon": True,
@@ -422,7 +426,8 @@ def setThemeHighVis(baseDir: str):
         "options": "jpg",
         "search": "jpg"
     }
-    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, name, themeParams, bgParams)
+    setThemeFromDict(baseDir, name, themeParams, bgParams,
+                     allowLocalNetworkAccess)
 
 
 def setThemeFonts(baseDir: str, themeName: str) -> None:
@@ -578,7 +583,8 @@ def setNewsAvatar(baseDir: str, name: str,
              nickname + '@' + domain + '/avatar.png')
 
 
-def setTheme(baseDir: str, name: str, domain: str) -> bool:
+def setTheme(baseDir: str, name: str, domain: str,
+             allowLocalNetworkAccess: bool) -> bool:
     result = False
 
     prevThemeName = getTheme(baseDir)
@@ -589,7 +595,8 @@ def setTheme(baseDir: str, name: str, domain: str) -> bool:
         themeNameLower = themeName.lower()
         if name == themeNameLower:
             try:
-                globals()['setTheme' + themeName](baseDir)
+                globals()['setTheme' + themeName](baseDir,
+                                                  allowLocalNetworkAccess)
             except BaseException:
                 pass
 
@@ -608,7 +615,8 @@ def setTheme(baseDir: str, name: str, domain: str) -> bool:
 
     variablesFile = baseDir + '/theme/' + name + '/theme.json'
     if os.path.isfile(variablesFile):
-        readVariablesFile(baseDir, name, variablesFile)
+        readVariablesFile(baseDir, name, variablesFile,
+                          allowLocalNetworkAccess)
 
     setCustomFont(baseDir)