NJ Transit surveillance systems raise privacy concerns

    (Emma Lee for NewsWorks

    (Emma Lee for NewsWorks

    More video and audio surveillance systems are being installed on New Jersey Transit’s light rail trains.

    And that’s raising concerns about passenger privacy.

    NJ Transit officials tell NJ.com the on-board systems are needed to fight crime and maintain security.

    The surveillance equipment cost $750,000 to install on River Line trains, while installation work is ongoing on the Hudson-Bergen and Newark light rail trains. That $1.9 million project is being paid for by a federal grant.

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    All light rail vehicles with the surveillance systems have signs informing passengers about their presence and that their conversations are being recorded.

    But the ACLU says passengers should also know how long the video and audio recordings are kept and who has access to them. They also say people should be able to have private conversations with the passenger next to them.

     

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