The Impact of Network Neutrality Violation on the Streaming Platform Ecosystem : Evidence from Twitch TV

2023 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Shin, Dongwon; Lee, Gunwoong

Abstract: The widespread use of media streaming services has resulted in a surge in netwo ... Expand

Abstract: The widespread use of media streaming services has resulted in a surge in network traffic, triggering debates on network usage fees between Internet service providers (ISPs) and content providers (CPs). As a response to network usage fees imposed by ISPs, CPs have opted to provide discriminatory service quality as a means of mitigating costs associated with high traffic volume. In 2022, a leading Korean ISP charged discriminatory network usage fees to Twitch TV, the media streaming platform, due to its excessive network traffic. In response, Twitch implemented a discriminatory service quality reduction policy. Our study examines the impact of this policy on the streaming platform ecosystem. Our results indicate that the implementation of the service quality reduction led to a remarkable decline in the number of viewers, which then resulted in adverse effects for streamers. This study contributes to the literature on network neutrality violation by offering empirical evidence. Collapse

Topics: net neutrality Twitch live streaming platform service quality digital ecosystem

Methods: experimental group propensity score matching descriptive statistic robustness check difference in differences

Is the Repeal of Net Neutrality a Necessary Evil? An Empirical Analysis of Net Neutrality and Cybercrime

2022 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Kim, Doehun; Park, Jiyong

Abstract: While net neutrality guarantees equal access to the Internet and online content ... Expand

Abstract: While net neutrality guarantees equal access to the Internet and online content, it serves as a limiting factor in identifying and tracking criminal activities in cyberspace by ensuring that data packet is transmitted with equal priority, irrespective of its source and content. Exploiting a natural experiment in which net neutrality policies were officially repealed in 2018 in the United States, this study examines the impact of net neutrality on the occurrence of cybercrime. Our findings suggest that the repeal of net neutrality is negatively associated with the occurrence of malicious code and content in an attempt to compromise computer systems (e.g., malware and ransomware). In contrast, we do not find any significant relationship with cybercrime victimization, and cybercrime that may subsequently occur in compromised systems (e.g., data breaches and denial-of-service attacks). This study provides novel insights into the role of net neutrality and open Internet toward the preventive cybersecurity paradigm. Collapse

Topics: net neutrality computer crime internet technology IT security criminality

Methods: experimental group natural experiment robustness check longitudinal research qualitative interview

Theories: economic theory

Analyzing Trends and Topics in Internet Governance and Cybersecurity Debates Found in Twelve Years of IGF Transcripts

2019 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Cogburn, Derrick L

Abstract: Internet Governance research generates substantial and innovative, interdiscipli ... Expand

Abstract: Internet Governance research generates substantial and innovative, interdisciplinary global scholarship. What are key topics and themes in this research area, and how do they relate to cybersecurity? This paper answers these questions by analyzing transcripts from twelve years of the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF), asking: (1) What key themes, topics, and entities are discussed at IGF? (2) Which issues have remained consistent at IGF, and which have changed? And (3) to what extent is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework represented at IGF? Using the CRISP-DM approach to text mining, we find human rights as the most dominant IGF theme, followed by freedom of expression, with disability being a persistent issue. During entity extraction cybersecurity emerges prominently, as does blockchain and IoT. Topic Modeling illustrates the resilience of human rights, but also identifies the IANA transition, accessibility, and “fake news.” Finally, the NIST cybersecurity framework is represented clearly in the data. Collapse

Topics: IT security IT governance internet of things mobile system big data

Methods: natural language processing cluster analysis topic model Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining data transformation

Research Commentary—From Net Neutrality to Data Neutrality: A Techno-Economic Framework and Research Agenda

2018 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 0

Authors: Easley, Robert F.; Guo, Hong; Krämer, Jan

Abstract: The Internet has assumed a central role in the global economy facilitating comme ... Expand

Abstract: The Internet has assumed a central role in the global economy facilitating commerce and communication and is thus central to many areas of information systems (IS) research. In particular, IS researchers played a critical role in the academic discourse on net neutrality, which has recently informed new regulatory frameworks in the United States and Europe. We discuss and categorize the various issues and key trade-offs that are still being debated in the context of net neutrality and identify open research questions in this domain. Based on these insights, we argue that net neutrality, which is concerned with a gatekeeper at the infrastructure level, may just be part of a larger debate on data neutrality where the gatekeeper may rather control a software platform. We provide several examples of potential data neutrality issues and generalize the key trade-offs in the context of a proposed four-step framework for identifying and organizing promising areas of IS research on data neutrality. Collapse

Topics: net neutrality internet technology innovation management operating system IS economics

Methods: computational algorithm

Harnessing the Power of the Cloud: Revenue, Fairness, and Cloud Neutrality

2018 | Journal of Management Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Joe-Wong, Carlee; Sen, Soumya

Abstract: Cloud computing is a transformational technology that reduces upfront infrastruc ... Expand

Abstract: Cloud computing is a transformational technology that reduces upfront infrastructure costs, democratizes access to computing and storage capacity, and helps businesses innovate and compete in the digital economy. However, the distribution of these significant social and economic benefits among the various stakeholders in the cloud ecosystem will critically depend on pricing and resource allocation decisions made by cloud providers. These decisions impact not only the provider revenue, but also the fairness of resources allocated among cloud users and the overall social welfare. Several unique features of cloud computing (e.g., the presence of multiple, nonfungible resources and heterogeneous users) make the interplay between these competing objectives hard to understand. To truly harness the power of cloud computing and to establish regulatory benchmarks, there is a need for frameworks that quantify how resource allocation and pricing choices affect different objectives. In this work, we introduce an analytical model that incorporates user utility, endogenous pricing, fairness among heterogeneous users, social welfare, and cloud provider revenue. We identify conditions under which there is a tradeoff between fairness and revenue, and quantify the extent of this tradeoff by formulating an optimization problem in which a cloud provider maximizes its revenue, subject to constraints on the desired level of fairness. Our work provides an initial step toward developing regulatory policies for cloud neutrality to ensure an equitable distribution of the transformative benefits of the cloud. Collapse

Topics: cloud computing provider cloud computing resource allocation economic surplus IS economics

Methods: optimization model survey mathematical model

Effects of Competition Among Internet Service Providers and Content Providers on the Net Neutrality Debate

2017 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 0

Authors: Hong, Guo; Bandyopadhyay, Subhajyoti; Lim, Arthur; Yang, Yu-Chen; Cheng, Hsing Kenneth

Abstract: Supporters of net neutrality have often argued that more competition among Inter ... Expand

Abstract: Supporters of net neutrality have often argued that more competition among Internet service providers (ISPs) is beneficial for an open Internet and that the market power of the ISPs lies at the heart of the net neutrality debate. However, the joint effects of the competition among ISPs and among content providers (CPs) have yet to be examined. We study the critical linkage between ISP competition and CP competition, as well as its policy implications. We find that even under competitive pressure from a rival ISP, an ISP always has the incentive and the ability to enforce charging CPs for priority delivery of content. Upending the commonly held belief that when facing direct competition CPs will always support the preservation of net neutrality, we find that, under certain conditions, it is economically beneficial for the dominant CP to reverse its stance on net neutrality. Collapse

Topics: net neutrality internet technology economic surplus IS economics price management

Methods: simulation game theoretical model

Theories: prisoner's dilemma

A game-theoretic evaluation of an ISP business model in caching

2017 | Information Systems Frontiers | Citations: 0

Authors: Künsemöller, Jörn; Zhang, Nan; Berg, Kimmo; Soares, João

Abstract: Internet traffic volume is increasing and this causes scalability issues in cont ... Expand

Abstract: Internet traffic volume is increasing and this causes scalability issues in content delivery. This problem can be addressed with different types of caching solutions. The incentives of different stakeholders to pay for these solutions are not known. However, it has been identified that Internet service providers (ISPs) need to be involved in the process of cache deployment due to their ownership of the network. This work evaluates a new business model where ISPs charge content providers (CPs) for a caching service because CPs benefit from more efficient content distribution. We provide conditions for sustainable paid in-network caching and their numerical evaluation in order to aid strategic decision-making by CPs, ISPs, and Cloud storage providers (CSPs). Although ISP caching as a paid service may not be an equilibrium, it turns out to be Pareto optimal at the right pricing. This encourages cooperation between CPs and ISPs. CSPs may choose cache friendly physical locations for their facilities in order to provide the necessary capacity to the ISPs. However, the required amounts are in all likelihood too small to be an incentive for the CSPs. ISP caching as a paid service can be an equilibrium when future benefits are considered and when the ISPs terminate caching-related improvements of service quality for clients who do not pay for caching. Collapse

Topics: business model resource allocation internet technology cloud computing economies of scale

Theories: game theory

Facebook's "Free Basics" and Implications for Development: IT Identity and Social Capital

2017 | HICSS | Citations: 0

Authors: Yim, Moonjung; Gomez, Ricardo; Carter, Michelle

Abstract: Facebook’s Free Basics has been controversial among researchers in the fields of ... Expand

Abstract: Facebook’s Free Basics has been controversial among researchers in the fields of information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) and community informatics (CI). What is the nature of Free Basics’ potential contribution to individual and community development? We explore this question by analyzing different uses of Facebook—one of the forefront services provided through Free Basics—and their relation to information technology (IT) identity and social capital. We find that, while issues and concerns surrounding Free Basics exist—e.g. restrictions on participants’ choices in accessing and using information, possible privacy risks, and potential societal costs—there is room for positive aspects in broader use of Facebook, despite its potential pitfalls. We suggest ways to analyze both the contradictions and contributions of Free Basics to individual and community development, and examine implications for ICTD and sustainable development in general. Collapse

Topics: Facebook social capital privacy information system use net neutrality

Theories: identity theory

Sponsored Data Services and Consumer Welfare on Mobile Broadband

2017 | International Conference on Information Systems | Citations: 0

Authors: Qiu, Liangfei; Wang, Chong (Alex); Jia, Jia

Abstract: Sponsored data services provide an alternative data consumption option for users ... Expand

Abstract: Sponsored data services provide an alternative data consumption option for users of mobile broadband services. Data sponsoring programs allow content providers (CPs), rather than consumers, to pay for data traffic incurred when consuming the sponsoring CP’s digital content. Internet service providers (ISPs) have been experimenting with this option for effective monetization of mobile broadband traffic. Meanwhile, policy makers are concerned about its market implications. In this study, we examine the impact of sponsored data services on an ISP’s pricing decisions and consumer welfare in a stylized game-theoretical model. We allow consumer heterogeneity in both usage pattern and taste for content services. Our model analysis reveals that a profitmaximizing ISP will always, irrespective of the market condition, prefer the arrangement that allows both CPs to sponsor data traffic. However, we find that the ISP’s decision to induce sponsoring competition on the CPs’ side will not help to increase consumer welfare. Collapse

Topics: price management IS economics consumer surplus nonlinear pricing net neutrality

Theories: game theory

Pricing Data Services: Pricing by Minutes, by Gigs, or by Megabytes per Second?

2016 | Information Systems Research | Citations: 5

Authors: Chen, Ying-Ju; Huang, Ke-Wei

Abstract: Motivated by the pervasive discrepancy among the pricing schemes of data service ... Expand

Abstract: Motivated by the pervasive discrepancy among the pricing schemes of data services, this paper investigates the selection of pricing metrics (variables) and the corresponding pricing plans. We construct a stylized model in which a monopoly data services seller faces heterogeneous consumers whose utilities depend on the usage and the connection speed. We examine three options for the seller to conduct the second-degree (indirect) price discrimination: by minutes, by gigabytes (Gigs), and by megabytes per second (Mbps). We show that the after-sales self-selection behaviors have a significant impact on the seller’s profitability, and it leads to a first-order influence on the pricing metric selection. We prove that either pricing by Gigs or Mbps can be optimal. Pricing by Gigs can dominate pricing by Mbps even if the consumer’s utility is more sensitive in changes in the connection speed. We also find that when incorporating the bandwidth costs or congestion costs, pricing by Mbps becomes more attractive as it allows the seller to directly control the congestion effect. These findings may help practitioners to develop their own pricing plans and pricing metrics selection. Collapse

Topics: price management price discrimination nonlinear pricing consumer behavior IS economics

Methods: optimization model

Theories: lemon market theory