Understanding Citizen Motivation in Digital Co-production: A Study of Security Incident Reporting in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Voluntary citizen reporting refers to the use of mobile digital platforms through which citizens contribute information on issues of public interest and participate in the co-production of public services. The effectiveness of such platforms depends on sustained citizen engagement, yet empirical evidence on motivational drivers remains limited in security-focused contexts, especially outside Western settings. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory and recent research on digital co-production, this study examines the intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing citizens’ intention to use a security-oriented reporting application in Saudi Arabia. Survey data were collected from 202 users of the “Kollona Amn” application, which enables citizens to report security-related incidents such as crimes and traffic violations. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the effects of motivational and technology-related factors on behavioral intention. The findings show that perceived output quality, social responsibility, and ease of use significantly influence citizens’ engagement in digital co-production through the application. In contrast, self-concern, rewards, and revenge do not exhibit a significant effect. The results indicate that participation in security reporting is primarily driven by expectations of effective public response, civic responsibility, and platform usability. This study contributes to the literature on digital co-production by providing evidence from a security reporting context and offers practical insights for the design and governance of citizen reporting applications.