An Oklahoma woman’s encounter with FBI agents at her doorstep has ignited a firestorm of controversy surrounding the agency’s surveillance of social media posts. Rolla Abdeljawad, a resident of Stillwater, captured video of her conversation with the agents, who informed her that Facebook had submitted screenshots of her posts to the bureau.
In the video, which was later shared on X by Abdeljawad’s attorney, Hassan Shibly, the agents can be heard telling Abdeljawad that the FBI sends agents to question Americans about their social media posts “all day long” in an “effort to keep everybody safe.” When Abdeljawad challenged the agents, asking if this meant Americans could no longer freely express their opinions, one agent responded, “No, we totally do. That’s why we’re not here to arrest you or anything.”
Abdeljawad, who had recently posted statements expressing her frustration with the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict and referred to Israel as “Israhell” and “Israhelli terrorist filth,” later confirmed with local police that the men who appeared at her home were indeed FBI agents.
The incident has raised serious questions about the extent of the FBI’s social media surveillance and its potential infringement on First Amendment rights. In a statement, the FBI defended its actions, stating that it engages with the public daily to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution, and that it cannot open investigations based solely on First Amendment-protected activity.
However, the agency’s explanation has done little to quell the concerns of civil liberties advocates and those who feel targeted by the FBI’s monitoring of social media. Abdeljawad herself has warned fellow Muslims and supporters of Palestine to be cautious, suggesting that their online activities, Google searches, mail, and even mosque attendance may be under surveillance.
The role of social media platforms like Facebook in providing user data to law enforcement has also come under scrutiny. While Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has a policy to share data in response to court orders, subpoenas, search warrants, or emergencies involving imminent harm, Abdeljawad’s attorney believes the FBI’s visit was more of a “fishing expedition” than a legitimate investigation.
As the debate over the balance between national security and individual rights continues, the Oklahoma woman’s experience has become a flashpoint in the ongoing conversation about the limits of government surveillance in the digital age.
