Airline passengers and civil liberties groups have expressed disgust and outrage at new security measures that are tantamount to 'foreplay'.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration trialled a new pat-down technique at Logan International Airport and is now rolling out the measures to all 450 of its airports.
The technique, described as 'horribly invasive' by a passengers rights group, involves security staff sliding their hand over passengers bodies, rather than patting them down, if they object to going through full-body imaging scanners.
Touchy subject: The TSA has introduced a new style of hand search that has sparked outrage
Kate Hinni, founder of the non-profit FlyersRights.org consumer group, said the new searches amount to a 'foreplay pat-down' that for many people is going to 'feel like a moral issue.'
'It’s like having to choose the lesser of two evils,' Hinni said.
'Both are horribly invasive.'
One shell-shocked female passenger who was subjected to the measures after her underwire bra set off metal detecting scanners in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday said the experience left her in tears.
Rosemary Fitzpatrick, who works for news channel CNN, said a female screener ran her hands around her breasts, over her stomach, buttocks and her inner thighs, and briefly touched her crotch.
'I felt helpless, I felt violated, and I felt humiliated,' said Fitzpatrick.
Choice: The pat down will be used if passengers object to walking through the full body imaging scanner
After the experience Fitzpatrick sent an email of complaint to the TSA, stating that she particularly objected to the fact that travelers were not warned about the new procedures.
Fitzpatrick's email stated: 'I am appalled and disgusted at the new search procedures and the fact that passengers have not been made aware of the new invasive steps prior to entering the security area.
'It appears once you enter the security area, passengers forfeit their rights. There were no signs, video information, etc. at the entrance of the security area the airport. Why?
Checks: An airport security member searches a passenger by hand
'As an experienced traveler for work who was in tears for most of the search process, I have never experienced a more traumatic and invasive travel event!'
TSA spokesman Kristin Lee said screeners will continue to use the pat-down method - to help detect hidden and dangerous items like explosives or bomb parts - and passengers will be searched by screeners of the same gender.
The TSA, for security reasons, would not provide details about the differences in the new technique for pat-downs, but Lee said: 'Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams, among others.'
Counterterrorism officials say commercial aviation continues to be an attractive target for terrorists, which is why security methods need to be changed regularly.
Pat-downs are used when something on the passenger sets off the metal detector, when the imaging technology detects something suspicious on the passenger and when the passenger opts out of the electronic screening methods.
Passengers who refuse to walk through the full-body image scanners are subjected to the searches, and the TSA also picks random passengers for the searches.
When TSA screeners previously used pat-down hand searches they switched to the backs of their hands when covering sensitive areas such as the torso.
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