Agent Reveals FBI Constantly Monitors Facebook Posts

An FBI operation involving counterintelligence or anti-terrorism was revealed for monitoring radical Islamic speech on Facebook. An FBI agent admitted to reviewing speech “every day, all day long.”

FBI agents visited Stillwater, Oklahoma resident Rolla Abdeljawad to inquire about anti-Israel comments made on Facebook, as reported by Reason.

Her attorney Hassan Shibly posted a video of the FBI visit in order to educate Americans about their rights in similar situations in the future.

“Facebook provided us with a few screenshots of your account,” an FBI agent mentioned in the video shared by the lawyer, as per the report.

“So, do we no longer have the freedom to speak our minds?” Abdeljawad responded, declining to engage with the FBI agents.

“No, absolutely,” a second agent stated in the video. “That’s why we’re not here to arrest you or anything. We do this every day, all day long. It’s simply to ensure everyone’s safety and to prevent any ill intentions.”

Shibly acknowledged that pursuing a lawsuit for his client would be challenging, given the FBI’s authority to investigate Americans. However, the case highlights the surveillance and scrutiny of free speech by the U.S. government, despite the protections of the First Amendment.

“It’s unfortunately common for the FBI to target the community in this manner,” Shibly informed Reason.

“It’s unjust what they did. In reality, with the community’s current state, I’m not sure if we have the capacity to take action against them. Rather, it’s about continuing to exercise your rights. If they contact you again, we will address it. We will hold them accountable.”

When asked for a comment on the situation by Reason, FBI Oklahoma City office spokeswoman Kayla McCleery declined to comment initially. However, after the story was published, she issued a statement suggesting that the FBI’s visit to Abdeljawad was related to more than just her anti-Israel Facebook posts.

“Every day, the FBI interacts with the public as part of our mission to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States,” McCleery stated. “We cannot initiate an investigation solely based on First Amendment protected activity. The FBI is committed to ensuring our actions are carried out with a legitimate law enforcement or national security purpose while safeguarding the constitutional rights of all Americans.”

In the video, the FBI informed the individual that they had received messages from Facebook, indicating they may have done more than just view her publicly posted comments that were easily accessible online.

In Abdeljawad’s Facebook posts, she referred to Israel as “Israhell” and cautioned about government surveillance, which she later experienced.

“Do not be deceived by their tactics,” she wrote. “Our community is being monitored, and they are waiting for any reason to round us up.

“If you are Muslim and/or pro-Palestinian, consider all your media accounts, Google searches, mail, messenger, local mosques, and political events being monitored. #NYC #usa #PoliceState #FreePalestine.”