The TSA has taken heat for its controversial pat-down procedure, which has been described as "sexual assault," "abuse," and "invasive" by perturbed travelers and organizations such as the ACLU.
Loopt, a location-based social networking service, has launched a tongue-in-cheek promotion tied to the controversial security procedures: it's offering travelers who "get touched by the TSA" the chance to win an iPod Touch.
Loopt explains on its blog,
National Opt-Out Day - the day before Thanksgiving - is the busiest travel day of the year. In light of recent controversy, many plan to refuse a backscatter scan at airport security, and instead choose a (fairly invasive) pat-down. Either way, people can count on longer-than-usual airport lines.
As a slight gift to opt-outers out there, Loopt is giving away 10 iPod Touches for TSA touching. Just check into your airport on Loopt* on Wednesday, November 24 (with iPhone, iPod Touch or Android), share a bit about your experience, push it to Twitter with the hashtag #touchedbyTSA, and you can win an iPod Touch. That simple.
People have praised Loopt's move--one Twitterer remarked it was "marketing at its finest," although it may also make light of a procedure some have compared to sexual assault. One blogger wrote of her experience following a pat-down, "I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent."
What do you think? Share your thoughts below. (h/t Mashable)