US 'don't touch my junk' campaign really takes off

AMERICAN travellers angry at the level of airport security they have to endure protested yesterday, ahead of one of the busiest travel days of the year - the Thanksgiving holiday.

The loosely organised effort dubbed National Opt-Out Day was aimed to highlight what some call unnecessarily intrusive security screenings.

The screenings have dominated US news over the past week, triggering debates about how to balance privacy concerns with the need for enhanced security to prevent terrorist attacks.

Protesters headed to airports across the US with handmade fliers, placards and slogan-bearing T-shirts.

The new measures have been a hot issue thanks to the online popularity of a California man's mobile phone video of a run-in with airport security over the new system of full body scanners. John Tyner resisted a scan and so security staff attempted a groin check at San Diego airport. Mr Tyner filmed the incident, in which he told the screener: "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested."

Mr Tyner's words have spawned a "Don't Touch My Junk!" campaign.

About 70 airports across the US have more than 400 of the refrigerator-sized imaging units. Only around 20 per cent of travellers are asked to go through them, but they cannot opt out of both the scan and body search once they have been randomly selected.