Andreas Hartl on the Role of Data in the Growth of Platforms

Platform Cooperativism 2016 presentation via https://livestream.com/internetsociety/platformcoop2016/videos/141869319

Description

Cities and Technological Sovereignty 5 - The Power of Platforms – New Rules for a Changing Economy?:

"(15 mins) Andreas Hartl - Internet-based platforms, such as search engines, social networks and trading platforms, are playing an ever growing economic role. They increase productivity, drive innovation and also attract investment. The development of platforms additionally has the potential to transform markets and market structures very rapidly. One reason for the special role of platforms is their capability to systematically collect and evaluate large amounts of data. The benefit and value of a platform increases with every additional user (network effect). Larger platforms keep on expanding almost automatically, while most smaller competitors remain small (‘winner takes all’). Many business models on the Internet are based on using data commercially. It is still largely unclear who ‘owns’ the particular data in question, and what monetary value can be placed on it. Furthermore, the evident lack of practical interest in data protection stands in contrast to the abstract preferences voiced (privacy paradox). In this talk, I will address the process initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the aim of which is to establish a regulatory framework designed to facilitate greater investment and innovation based on fair competition, while also assuring basic individual and corporate rights and data sovereignty."