The European Union has issued a warning to WhatsApp and Yahoo about the use of consumer data.

The warning particularly addressed the issue of WhatsApp sharing its users' information with its parent company Facebook. It also pertained to Yahoo's 2014 security breach and its snooping on users' emails for surveillance purpose.

Like Us on Facebook

EU data protection authorities, the Article 29 Working Party, expressed deep concerns about WhatsApp modifying its privacy policy to allow for sharing data with Facebook. The Party said that it had requested WhatsApp to submit the required information to the authorities. The messaging app has also been asked to not share any users' data until all the applicable legal protections are sorted out.

WhatsApp stated that it is cooperating with data protection authorities to address their queries. A spokesperson for the company said that there have constructive conversations and that WhatsApp is committed to respecting the applicable laws.

The Article 29 Working Party is an advisory group and does not have the powers to issue orders to the companies. The group is currently examining WhatsApp's new privacy policy.

The group also sent a communication to Yahoo. The letter touched the issue of 2014 data breach, which was reported by the company in September this year. The breach is believed to have affected hundreds of million Yahoo users. The letter also expressed concerns about Yahoo scanning its users' emails on behalf of the US intelligence agencies. The group has asked Yahoo to share information about the data breach. It has also been told to notify the affected users about the "adverse effects" of the breach.