‘Full web histories will not be accessed’

British security services will not be allowed to access web users’ full browsing histories under new surveillance powers, Theresa May, the home secretary has insisted.

She said it was “simply wrong” to suggest that new powers in the draft Investigatory Powers Bill to access “internet connection records” would allow the collection of someone’s full web history.

May said it would allow the likes of the police and GCHQ to know if someone has visited a social media website like Facebook, but not which pages they looked at, who they communicated with, or what they said.