diff --git a/shared/middleware/files_api.rb b/shared/middleware/files_api.rb
index 34e7f15b7073c..6ad090f771de7 100644
--- a/shared/middleware/files_api.rb
+++ b/shared/middleware/files_api.rb
@@ -856,15 +856,14 @@ def files_put_file(encrypted_channel_id, filename, body)
       project_type = storage_apps.project_type_from_channel_id(encrypted_channel_id)
       if MODERATE_THUMBNAILS_FOR_PROJECT_TYPES.include? project_type
         file_mime_type = mime_type(File.extname(filename.downcase))
-        rating = ImageModeration.rate_image(file, file_mime_type, request.fullpath)
-        if %i(adult racy).include? rating
-          # Incrementing abuse score by 15 to differentiate from manually reported projects
-          new_score = storage_apps.increment_abuse(encrypted_channel_id, 15)
-          FileBucket.new.replace_abuse_score(encrypted_channel_id, s3_prefix, new_score)
-          response.headers['x-cdo-content-rating'] = rating.to_s
-          cache_for 1.hour
-          not_found
-        end
+        ImageModeration.rate_image(file, file_mime_type, request.fullpath)
+        # We are going to re-enable content moderation, but will be adjusting
+        # the thresholds in a series of trials to optimize for identifying
+        # inappropriate images without incorrectly flagging appropriate images.
+        # In the meantime, we don't want to increment abuse score until we
+        # identify the optimal threshold.
+        # TODO (ErinB) re-enable abuse score incrementation when
+        # the correct thresholds are set.
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/shared/test/middleware/files_api/test_public_thumbnails.rb b/shared/test/middleware/files_api/test_public_thumbnails.rb
index 648017862291d..e9c8712c26087 100644
--- a/shared/test/middleware/files_api/test_public_thumbnails.rb
+++ b/shared/test/middleware/files_api/test_public_thumbnails.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ def setup
     Aws::S3::Client.expects(:new).never
   end
 
+  #Disabled while we gather Azure moderation stats. (PR 24626)'
   def test_adult_thumbnail
+    skip
     ImageModeration.stubs(:rate_image).once.returns :adult
 
     with_project_type('applab') do |channel_id|
@@ -38,7 +40,9 @@ def test_adult_thumbnail
     end
   end
 
+  #Disabled while we gather Azure moderation stats. (PR 24626)'
   def test_racy_thumbnail
+    skip
     ImageModeration.stubs(:rate_image).once.returns :racy
 
     with_project_type('applab') do |channel_id|