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A man who wears a cochlear implant posted videos showing the pat-down he received while going through security at San Francisco International Airport, which shocked many viewers.
Dan Jarvis posted the videos to his TikTok account @danjarvis021, where they received nearly 33 million views in total. The first video, which was viewed nearly 32 million times, played Céline Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" in the background, as it showed the thorough pat-down Jarvis received.
The second video, which was viewed nearly 1 million times, featured the same clip without the music. The text over the video said Jarvis was patted down by security due to his cochlear implant.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, all travelers must be screened during the security process by technology or pat-down.
If someone is deaf or hard of hearing, they are advised to tell the TSA officer if they need help with the security process.
"You are not required to remove any hearing aids or cochlear implants," the agency said. "Additional screening, including a pat-down or inspection of a device, may be required if it alarms the walk-through metal detector or advanced imaging technology."
The agency said these pat-downs may involve inspections of the head, neck and torso.
"This includes head coverings and sensitive areas such as breasts, groin, and the buttocks," officials with TSA said.
Jarvis told KRON 4 that he opts for a pat-down when going through security to protect his cochlear implant.
The clip showed an agent patting down Jarvis' groin area, legs and feet.
"This is unbelievable," said the person filming the video.
The agent continued the pat-down, and as the agent patted down his upper legs, Jarvis appeared shocked.
"This is next level," read the caption on the first video.
Viewers took to the comments section of both videos to share their thoughts.
"The way he almost FELL BACKWARDS from pushing so hard," a viewer wrote.
"I've worked at an airport for over a decade (not for TSA) and that was the most aggressive/excessive pat down I've ever seen," another viewer commented.
"Are you OK though for real? Because this seems super invasive," one viewer wrote.
"How is this allowed," a commenter asked.
"The way he kept swiping back over it," a viewer said. "There's no way he doesn't know what he's doing... ."
Newsweek reached out to Dan Jarvis and the Transportation Security Administration for comment.
Other videos taken at the airport have previously gone viral.
A man sparked a debate after he revealed he faked an injury to skip long airport security lines. Another man's efforts to prove his hand luggage met the in-flight requirements were captured in a viral video.
One man said he was detained at an airport because of his stutter.
About the writer
Catherine Ferris is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting for the U.S. Trends Team. She ... Read more