Two lawmakers are questioning the privacy implications of a program that would allow unmanned aircraft "to fly beside commercial airplanes in U.S. airspace," this blog says. Reps. Joe Barton, R-Texas, and Edward Markey, D-Mass., recently urged the Federal Aviation Administration to consider how the drones will affect privacy. The goal of drones for agencies is to improve security and prevent and identify natural disasters. "However, in addition to benefits, there is also potential for drone technology to enable invasive and pervasive surveillance without adequate privacy protections," the lawmakers wrote in a letter. "We are writing to express our concerns about the law's potential privacy implications and to requisition information about how the FAA is addressing these important matters."