An arbitration method, apparatus, and system, relates to the field of computer technologies, where the arbitration method, executed by a first data center, includes viewing a preset arbitration policy when determining that communication between the first data center and a second data center is interrupted, and an arbitration device cannot perform arbitration, and continuing providing a service when determining, according to the arbitration policy, that the first data center is a preferred data center, or stopping providing the service when determining, according to the preset arbitration policy, that the first data center is not the preferred data center, where the first data center and the second data center are active-active data centers. Hence, the arbitration method, apparatus, and system solve a problem of a service interruption caused by a fault of the arbitration device, therefore an uninterrupted service is provided for a user.