The paradox of (Inter)net neutrality: An experiment on ex-ante antitrust regulation✰

Net neutrality has been the most relevant and heavily debated Internet regulation policy of last decade. aims to prohibit discrimination between data packages in terms content, origin, destination, or type equipment used. However, Big Tech companies, sheltered by net policy, have flourished. They now power exclude minor therefore their contents, from market de facto defiance principle. Academic results regarding this paradox are still ambiguous. To represent current distortions analyze a potential tool adjust strengthen principle, an economic experiment based on extended version dictator game was conducted. In particular, effect ex-ante control sanctioning mechanism collusive behavior big companies studied. The proves effective, significatively reducing abusive large companies. This result contributes debate neutrality, reinforcing idea that policymakers, given asymmetric structure, should revise update regulations.