NJ Transit ending use of audio surveillance

New Jersey Transit will end its controversial use of audio surveillance systems on some of its trains.

Audio and video recording have been in use on the River Line between Trenton and Camden. And the agency had said it would be in use on light rail trains in Newark and in Hudson County.

But the agency announced Wednesday afternoon it was removing the audio recording feature from light rail vehicles.

That decision came after an internal review that involved weighing security benefits, operational necessities and evolving industry practices.

The move won’t compromise customer safety, the agency said.

Rail rider groups and civil liberties advocates had raised privacy issues about the surveillance.