The problem I have with this response is that the News apparently targeted anybody they thought would make a good story, not just people who were probably doing

The problem I have with this response is that the News apparently targeted anybody they thought would make a good story, not just people who were probably doing things they shouldn't. If it were politicians and business people, for serious research, okay—but the Guardian article I saw said a number of celebrities were also spied on. Journalism is not the same as tabloid "journalism".