The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Indeed, the term paparazzo first appeared in the 1961 film "La Dolce Vita," and it had the same meaning then as it does today. What was a novelty in 1961 has become much more common.
Are there too many paparazzi working today?
Yes, there are many, by the thousands in the whole world, but basically in major cities where artists and singers live or in places which are considered as movie places such as Holywood, California, where it is also the place where many international film studios are located.
How many do we need?
It is not a matter of how many we need, because it has become a profession and photographs get paid to follow famous people just to get a good photograph that can cause controversy, speculation, or sensationalism.
The truth of the matter is that paparazzi have grown in numbers because people love the "show business" and like to gossip and pay extra money to watch pics, memes, videos of artists and singers.
Paparazzi have the freedom to get the best shots of artists or public figures when these public figures are in a public sphere or scene: working, public appearances, red carpets, and so on
But there is a fine but notorious line that these paparazzi must never cross. And that is the private life of people. And that always must be respected, no matter what.
Private life should not be of interest to the audiences.