Campaigners today warned of a 'seismic shift' in privacy invasion after it emerged that Intel was the latest company set to market a television set-top box equipped with a camera that stares back at viewers.

The company, which makes the microchips found inside most personal computers, has launched an entirely new division, Intel Media, to make and market the Orwellian streaming-television product.

Erik Huggers, vice-president of Intel Media, said the new service would offer users a TV 'that is much more personal, that learns about you, that actually cares about who you are.'

The camera, Intel claims, will enable them to personalise the interactive features of their product, so that different members of the same household can be served programming and advertising specific to them. Intel is only the latest company to develop a television product that contains a camera and sensors designed to watch what viewers are up to.