diff --git a/spec/models/map_spec.rb b/spec/models/map_spec.rb
index d1486192..27227188 100644
--- a/spec/models/map_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/map_spec.rb
@@ -5,34 +5,5 @@ RSpec.describe Map, type: :model do
   it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :name }
   it { is_expected.to validate_presence_of :permission }
   it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:permission).in_array Perm::ISSIONS.map(&:to_s) }
-
-  context 'permissions' do
-    let(:owner) { create :user }
-    let(:other_user) { create :user }
-    let(:map) { create :map, user: owner, permission: :commons }
-    let(:private_map) { create :map, user: owner, permission: :private }
-    let(:public_map) { create :map, user: owner, permission: :public }
-
-    it 'prevents deletion by non-owner' do
-      expect(map.authorize_to_delete(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(map.authorize_to_delete(owner)).to eq map
-    end
-
-    it 'prevents visibility if private' do
-      expect(map.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq map
-      expect(map.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq map
-      expect(private_map.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq private_map
-      expect(private_map.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq false
-    end
-
-    it 'only allows editing if commons or owned' do
-      expect(map.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq map
-      expect(map.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq map
-      expect(private_map.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(private_map.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq private_map
-      expect(public_map.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(public_map.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq public_map
-    end
-  end
 end
 
diff --git a/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb b/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
index dcf85358..6ba5ff22 100644
--- a/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/synapse_spec.rb
@@ -10,33 +10,4 @@ RSpec.describe Synapse, type: :model do
   it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:permission).in_array Perm::ISSIONS.map(&:to_s) }
   it { is_expected.to validate_inclusion_of(:category).in_array ['from-to', 'both'] }
   it { is_expected.to validate_length_of(:desc).is_at_least(0) } # TODO don't allow nil
-
-  context 'permissions' do
-    let(:owner) { create :user }
-    let(:other_user) { create :user }
-    let(:synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :commons }
-    let(:private_synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :private }
-    let(:public_synapse) { create :synapse, user: owner, permission: :public }
-
-    it 'prevents deletion by non-owner' do
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_delete(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_delete(owner)).to eq synapse
-    end
-
-    it 'prevents visibility if private' do
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq synapse
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq synapse
-      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq private_synapse
-      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq false
-    end
-
-    it 'only allows editing if commons or owned' do
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq synapse
-      expect(synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq synapse
-      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(private_synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq private_synapse
-      expect(public_synapse.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(public_synapse.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq public_synapse
-    end
-  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/topic_spec.rb b/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
index b499daac..ef8f0b7a 100644
--- a/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/topic_spec.rb
@@ -49,33 +49,4 @@ RSpec.describe Topic, type: :model do
       end
     end
   end
-
-  context 'permssions' do
-    let(:owner) { create :user }
-    let(:other_user) { create :user }
-    let(:topic) { create :topic, user: owner, permission: :commons }
-    let(:private_topic) { create :topic, user: owner, permission: :private }
-    let(:public_topic) { create :topic, user: owner, permission: :public }
-
-    it 'prevents deletion by non-owner' do
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_delete(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_delete(owner)).to eq topic
-    end
-
-    it 'prevents visibility if private' do
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq topic
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq topic
-      expect(private_topic.authorize_to_show(owner)).to eq private_topic
-      expect(private_topic.authorize_to_show(other_user)).to eq false
-    end
-
-    it 'only allows editing if commons or owned' do
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq topic
-      expect(topic.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq topic
-      expect(private_topic.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(private_topic.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq private_topic
-      expect(public_topic.authorize_to_edit(other_user)).to eq false
-      expect(public_topic.authorize_to_edit(owner)).to eq public_topic
-    end
-  end
 end