The specific issue here is that the shared information is targeted at a specific group and seems likely to be used with dangerous intent

That doesn't characterize a general record of numbers/addresses, which more or less ensures some basic anonymity as connecting names to numbers doesn't do much outside some other qualifier, like, these people are the police who are suppressing our cause

I’m pretty sure people were consenting to have their number listed there in their agreement with their Telco.

Are you referring to the opt in database of details you were expected to update yourself?