diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e237a156..1c2a7bf6 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Changelog
 
 ## 1.9.7
-* Add a capability check to the preview endpoint, to prevent unauthenticated users from accessing it
+* Adds a capability check to the preview, authors and hashtag endpoint to prevent unauthenticated calls (#685)
 
 ## 1.9.6
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9069a8c5..f7fc29f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 * Requires at least: 4.4
 * Requires PHP: 5.6
 * Tested up to: 4.9.8
-* Stable tag: 1.9.6
+* Stable tag: 1.9.7
 * License: GPLv2 or later
 * License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
 
diff --git a/classes/class-wpcom-liveblog-rest-api.php b/classes/class-wpcom-liveblog-rest-api.php
index e6ed90b2..bb1480fe 100644
--- a/classes/class-wpcom-liveblog-rest-api.php
+++ b/classes/class-wpcom-liveblog-rest-api.php
@@ -211,7 +211,6 @@ public static function register_routes() {
 						'required' => false,
 					),
 				),
-				'permission_callback'  => '__return_true',
 			)
 		);
 
@@ -237,7 +236,6 @@ public static function register_routes() {
 						'required' => false,
 					),
 				),
-				'permission_callback'  => '__return_true',
 			)
 		);
 
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 524bd5bd..02bfa7b2 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Tags: liveblog
 Requires at least: 4.4
 Requires PHP: 5.6
 Tested up to: 5.8
-Stable tag: 1.9.6
+Stable tag: 1.9.7
 License: GPLv2 or later
 License URI: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html