Theresa May forced to backtrack on internet 'snooping' plans

Ministers rule out ban on encryption but civil rights group Liberty says climbdown is 'just spin'

Highly controversial plans to allow the police and security services full access to everyone's internet browsing history have been abandoned by ministers in what is being presented as a dramatic climbdown over online surveillance.

Amid fears in government that it would be unable to force new laws through parliament because of concerns over civil liberties, the Home Office said it had dropped several contentious proposals from the investigatory powers bill, which will be published in draft form on Wednesday.