Councils to be banned from accessing residents' internet history

Councils in the UK will not be able to access people’s internet browsing history under proposed new spying laws.

The draft Investigatory Powers Bill, unveiled today, would require internet firms to store information about people’s web, app and social media use for 12 months.

It gives police and intelligence agencies new tools to fight terrorism and serious crime in the digital age, supporters say.

Town halls have previously come under fire for using spying powers against dog walkers suspected of not clearing up after their pets.

But the new law will prohibit councils from accessing the internet connection records (ICRs) stored under the new act, described as the equivalent of a phone bill for the internet.

Police would be able to see that a user has visited facebook.com, for instance, but not what profiles they have viewed or what searches they have carried out.

Any unauthorised use of the records – including by council officials – would carry a maximum two-year prison sentence.

Another safeguard is the proposed new criminal offence of “knowingly or recklessly obtaining communications data from a telecommunications operator without lawful authority”.

A government source said: “Communications data is an essential tool for the full range of law enforcement activity, including serious offences investigated by local authorities like rogue traders and benefit fraud.

“Sometimes communications data is the only way to identify offenders, particularly where offences are committed online.

“But it is important that people understand that communications data is only ever used in a necessary, proportionate and accountable way.