Kobo is a Canadian company based in Toronto subject to Canadian law. The Barnes & Nobel (Nook) and Sony are not Canadian companies. Internet privacy is good. Look at US NSA (National Security Agency) trying to record every internet communication possible just in case it is needed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Agency
Sync reading positions for side loaded books by Kobo e-readers and Kobo e-reader programs on Android and I-devices has been discussed here many times. Kobo employees said it would violate Canadian law. A member of this forum has posted a link to this law which is up for review now.