will appeal aGerman privacy ruling regarding its use of data fromWhatsApp Inc users inthe country, Reuters reported Sept. 27.

The HamburgCommissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information ordered Facebook tocease collecting and storing data from users of its acquired messaging appWhatsApp, as it breaches German data protection rules.

Thewatchdog also reportedly said Facebook and WhatsApp are separate companies, andmust therefore process their users' data separately.

's privacy watchdog is also conducting its ownprobe on the matter, according to the report.