Sammanfattning: Digital civic engagement tools can amplify marginalized voices by lowering barriers to participation and ensuring diverse perspectives are heard in decision-making.

Date: September 21, 2025
Author: Johan Lido

Civisto: A New Era for Civic Engagement in Sweden

How can we make it more fun and effective for citizens to report issues in their municipality? For years, platforms like FixMyStreet have made it easier to submit issue reports, but engagement has often remained low. With Civisto, we want to change that.

Why Gamification?

Gamification is about using game mechanics—like points, levels, and rewards—to motivate and engage people. In Civisto, we apply gamification to civic engagement, so that more citizens feel encouraged to participate and contribute to their local community.

Examples of Gamification in Civisto

  • Points and Levels: Citizens earn points for each issue report and can level up as they contribute more.
  • Badges: Special achievements for, for example, the first report in a new category or for collaborating with others.
  • Leaderboards: See how you compare to others in your municipality.

AI Triage – Smarter Issue Reporting

A common problem with traditional issue reporting is that many reports end up in the wrong place, or are duplicates. Civisto uses AI Triage to automatically sort, categorize, and prioritize incoming reports. This means:

  • Faster handling for municipalities.
  • Less frustration for citizens who want feedback.
  • Better data for decision-makers.

Civisto and Total Defense

In a time when Total Defense is becoming increasingly important, it is crucial that municipalities have robust systems for communication with citizens. Civisto is built to be resilient and secure, and can be integrated into the municipality’s crisis management.

For Municipalities: More Than Just Fault Reporting

Civisto is not just a tool for issue reporting. The platform can also be used for:

  • Surveys and polls to gather opinions before decisions.
  • Dialogue forums for ongoing discussions.
  • Information campaigns in times of crisis or change.

Comparison: Civisto vs. FixMyStreet

Feature Civisto FixMyStreet
Gamification Yes No
AI Triage Yes No
Dialogue forums Yes Limited
Crisis communication Yes No
Open source Yes Yes

The Future of Civic Engagement

We believe that civic engagement should be both meaningful and enjoyable. With Civisto, we want to lower the threshold for participation and give both citizens and municipalities better tools for collaboration.

Are you curious about how Civisto can strengthen your municipality’s engagement and resilience? Contact us for a demo or more information!

In the shadow of our well-ordered cities and communities, there are groups of people whose voices are rarely heard. They are the invisible, the marginalized, those who live outside the established social and digital structures. One of the most vulnerable of these groups is the homeless. They are often the first to notice problems in public spaces – a broken water pipe, a dangerous patch of ice in winter, or signs of vandalism – but they often lack the channels to report these observations and be heard.

Traditionally, these groups have been seen as recipients of help, not as active resources for society. But what if we could turn that perspective around? What if we could give them the tools not only to be seen and heard, but also to become valuable contributors to a safer and better society? That is one of the most profound and transformative possibilities with a platform like Civisto.

From Invisible to Indispensable Information Source

People experiencing homelessness possess a unique and detailed knowledge of public spaces. They observe what happens on streets and squares at all hours of the day and night. In many respects, they are the true experts on the city’s hidden life. By providing them with access to a simple and accessible reporting app like Civisto, we can transform this unique knowledge into a powerful resource for the municipality.

Research has shown that access to technology, such as smartphones, can be a powerful tool for empowering people experiencing homelessness and helping them manage their social needs[1]. Civisto takes this a step further. By reporting an issue—and seeing it resolved—the individual receives tangible confirmation that their voice matters. This can be a small, yet profoundly important, step towards rebuilding a sense of dignity, agency, and belonging in the community.

More Than Just Reporting: A Path to Digital Inclusion

For many in vulnerable situations, the digital divide is a significant barrier. Using Civisto can serve as a gateway to the digital world. The app is designed to be extremely easy to use, and by collaborating with shelters, soup kitchens, and nonprofit organizations, we can offer support and training to help users get started. Every interaction with the app, every point earned, and every issue resolved becomes part of a learning process that builds digital skills and confidence.

This is about digital inclusion in practice. As highlighted by UNDP (the UN Development Programme), Civic Tech is about empowering people to access information, express their opinions, and shape policy [2]. For marginalized groups, this is especially important. It’s about ensuring that digitalization does not leave anyone behind, but instead becomes a tool to reduce inequality.

A New Role: The Everyday Hero

Civisto’s vision of the “everyday hero” is particularly relevant here. When a person experiencing homelessness reports a water leak that prevents serious water damage, or a broken streetlight that makes a walkway safer, they are no longer just a passive recipient of society’s support. They are an active, contributing citizen. They are a hero. This change in self-image and how one is perceived by others can have a profound psychological effect.

By giving the most vulnerable a voice, a function, and an opportunity to contribute, Civisto does more than just fix problems in the city. We challenge prejudices and create new pathways for inclusion and participation. We demonstrate that everyone, regardless of life circumstances, has valuable knowledge and can play an important role in building a better, safer society for all.

References

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[2] UNDP. (n.d.). Civic Tech for Transparent, Inclusive, and Accountable Governance. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/asia-pacific/civic-tech

Vanliga frågor

How can digital tools help marginalized groups participate?
By removing physical barriers, providing multilingual support, offering anonymous reporting options, and creating safe spaces for feedback that might not be given in traditional settings.