The present teaching relates to a method, system, and programming for determining a source of a data object. A first average latency of a plurality of users in accessing the data object from the first data source is computed, wherein the first data source was previously identified as being the source of the data object. From each of other data sources, a second average latency of the plurality of users in accessing the data object from the other data source is obtained. In response to the first data source satisfying a first criterion associated with the first average latency, the first data source is maintained to be the source of the data object. In response to the first data source violating the first criterion, one of the other data sources that satisfies a second criterion associated with the second average latency is deemed as the source of the data object.