What a bogus headline.
If you don't want to try to sync with others publically, don't airdrop in a place where you think someone is waiting to steal your information.
Reality though - your email and phone number is probably already out there.
I'm waiting for the headline - thieves who grab the phone you stick out in front of you while you walk / sit / eat / drink / ride bus / ride train - may get PII. They really can - and likely lots more than whatever apple is leaking.
No excuse for apple's idiocy, just some perspective perhaps. You can easily avoid this - I can't remember last time I used share pane in public.