New app for reporting issues in Paris sparks criticism
A new smartphone app from the Mairie of Paris is enabling residents to report problems around the city, despite criticism that it is encouraging 鈥渄enunciation鈥� behaviour.
The app, , and Apple iOS and Android phones.
It is intended to allow residents to alert the Mairie to situations such as a car parked wrongly in a bike lane, rubbish abandoned improperly on the pavement, or new graffiti on public walls.
According to the app, it has been designed to 鈥渃ommunicate anomalies in the streets and parks of Paris鈥�. Users can describe the problem, the exact location, and even send a photo.
Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo Mairie staff would follow up all reports and give offenders a warning or - in the case of wrongly parked cars - taken vehicles 鈥渢o the car pound鈥�. This would 鈥減rioritise security and help ease congestion鈥�, she said.
But some social media users have said the app encourages 鈥渄enunciation鈥� and could lead people to feel unsafe.
One user, Melimelo, said that such a system would create an 鈥渦nhealthy atmosphere鈥� and encourage people to have 鈥減ermanent distrust in others鈥�. It could even lead to 鈥渨atching your neighbour and reporting what they 鈥榯hink鈥� (even if we don鈥檛 know)鈥�, the tweet said.
Another user said the app reminded them of 鈥渄ark hours in our history鈥�, and asked: 鈥淐an we report people who are dying of hunger and will soon die of the cold, so that someone can take care of them too?鈥�
Ms Hidalgo has defended the app, and said that it does not amount to 鈥渄enunciation鈥�.
She said: 鈥淵ou often see thoughtless drivers or motorcyclists who park in cycle lanes or bus lanes. I use the app a lot myself.鈥�
