Page 57 - U4SSC Blockchain for smart sustainable cities

Case 6. Active Citizen

Many cities have already implemented or To encourage participation, the system awards
are starting to implement platforms for points that can be redeemed for brand souvenirs
residents’ participation in urban life and two- or tickets to theatres or museums. Through these
way communication with local government. referendums, residents are able to play a greater
Such platforms seek the opinions of residents role in influencing the policies of their city.
through voting systems or problem-reporting To date, more than 4 000 voting sessions
mechanisms; however, many of them encounter have been held and over 100 million opinions
low levels of trust. People doubt that their view gathered from 2.2 million participants. The
has weight and will be heard, or they suspect Moscow City government wants to ensure that
that the voting results are faked. 80
every Active Citizen participant feels certain
This was the situation in Moscow where the that his or her opinion counts. Therefore, to
Active Citizen system was developed to allow increase transparency and accountability, the
people of different ages and professions to Active Citizen project began to use blockchain
participate in the positive transformation of technology.
their constantly growing and changing city.
The project started in 2014 with a simple web
Active Citizen (AC) is an online referendum and application system. Voting was city-wide and
system, accessed through a website and mobile accessible to all registered participants. However,
application that allows residents to vote on people believed that the city influenced the
matters of city development such as speed limits, results. Residents did not understand how the
new playgrounds or parks, sports complexes, votes were recorded and the results calculated.
additional bus routes, lawn mowing, the naming These processes took place in a physically and
of the new metro ring and much more. digitally protected data processing centre. There
was no technical tool to make the counting of
votes visible – until the advent of blockchain. 81

Figure 11: Smart City dimension of Active Citizen

U4SSC: Blockchain for smart sustainable cities 47