diff --git a/builtin/game/privileges.lua b/builtin/game/privileges.lua
index 97681655e..2ff4c093c 100644
--- a/builtin/game/privileges.lua
+++ b/builtin/game/privileges.lua
@@ -97,10 +97,6 @@ core.register_privilege("rollback", {
 	description = S("Can use the rollback functionality"),
 	give_to_singleplayer = false,
 })
-core.register_privilege("basic_debug", {
-	description = S("Can view more debug info that might give a gameplay advantage"),
-	give_to_singleplayer = false,
-})
 core.register_privilege("debug", {
 	description = S("Can enable wireframe"),
 	give_to_singleplayer = false,
diff --git a/src/client/game.cpp b/src/client/game.cpp
index 8959b5f15..4337d308e 100644
--- a/src/client/game.cpp
+++ b/src/client/game.cpp
@@ -1740,7 +1740,7 @@ void Game::processQueues()
 
 void Game::updateDebugState()
 {
-	bool has_basic_debug = client->checkPrivilege("basic_debug");
+	const bool has_basic_debug = true;
 	bool has_debug = client->checkPrivilege("debug");
 
 	if (m_game_ui->m_flags.show_basic_debug) {
@@ -2211,7 +2211,7 @@ void Game::toggleCinematic()
 
 void Game::toggleBlockBounds()
 {
-	if (client->checkPrivilege("basic_debug")) {
+	if (true /* basic_debug */) {
 		enum Hud::BlockBoundsMode newmode = hud->toggleBlockBounds();
 		switch (newmode) {
 			case Hud::BLOCK_BOUNDS_OFF:
@@ -2307,26 +2307,24 @@ void Game::toggleDebug()
 	// The debug text can be in 2 modes: minimal and basic.
 	// * Minimal: Only technical client info that not gameplay-relevant
 	// * Basic: Info that might give gameplay advantage, e.g. pos, angle
-	// Basic mode is used when player has "basic_debug" priv,
-	// otherwise the Minimal mode is used.
+	// Basic mode is always used.
+
+	const bool has_basic_debug = true;
 	if (!m_game_ui->m_flags.show_minimal_debug) {
 		m_game_ui->m_flags.show_minimal_debug = true;
-		if (client->checkPrivilege("basic_debug")) {
+		if (has_basic_debug)
 			m_game_ui->m_flags.show_basic_debug = true;
-		}
 		m_game_ui->m_flags.show_profiler_graph = false;
 		draw_control->show_wireframe = false;
 		m_game_ui->showTranslatedStatusText("Debug info shown");
 	} else if (!m_game_ui->m_flags.show_profiler_graph && !draw_control->show_wireframe) {
-		if (client->checkPrivilege("basic_debug")) {
+		if (has_basic_debug)
 			m_game_ui->m_flags.show_basic_debug = true;
-		}
 		m_game_ui->m_flags.show_profiler_graph = true;
 		m_game_ui->showTranslatedStatusText("Profiler graph shown");
 	} else if (!draw_control->show_wireframe && client->checkPrivilege("debug")) {
-		if (client->checkPrivilege("basic_debug")) {
+		if (has_basic_debug)
 			m_game_ui->m_flags.show_basic_debug = true;
-		}
 		m_game_ui->m_flags.show_profiler_graph = false;
 		draw_control->show_wireframe = true;
 		m_game_ui->showTranslatedStatusText("Wireframe shown");
diff --git a/src/client/gameui.cpp b/src/client/gameui.cpp
index bae5241b1..8505ea3ae 100644
--- a/src/client/gameui.cpp
+++ b/src/client/gameui.cpp
@@ -210,7 +210,6 @@ void GameUI::initFlags()
 {
 	m_flags = GameUI::Flags();
 	m_flags.show_minimal_debug = g_settings->getBool("show_debug");
-	m_flags.show_basic_debug = false;
 }
 
 void GameUI::showMinimap(bool show)
diff --git a/src/network/clientpackethandler.cpp b/src/network/clientpackethandler.cpp
index 47f259b92..48ad60ac6 100644
--- a/src/network/clientpackethandler.cpp
+++ b/src/network/clientpackethandler.cpp
@@ -900,11 +900,6 @@ void Client::handleCommand_Privileges(NetworkPacket* pkt)
 		m_privileges.insert(priv);
 		infostream << priv << " ";
 	}
-
-	// Enable basic_debug on server versions before it was added
-	if (m_proto_ver < 40)
-		m_privileges.insert("basic_debug");
-
 	infostream << std::endl;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/network/networkprotocol.h b/src/network/networkprotocol.h
index 7bf5801f5..a5ff53216 100644
--- a/src/network/networkprotocol.h
+++ b/src/network/networkprotocol.h
@@ -206,7 +206,6 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 		Adds new sun, moon and stars packets
 		Minimap modes
 	PROTOCOL VERSION 40:
-		Added 'basic_debug' privilege
 		TOCLIENT_MEDIA_PUSH changed, TOSERVER_HAVE_MEDIA added
 */