MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AS CATALYSTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY: A UTAUT-INTEGRATED COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GLOBAL SYSTEMS AND UZBEKISTAN’S SMART MAHALLA EVOLUTION

Abstract

Mobile technologies play a crucial role in enhancing public safety by enabling faster communication and fostering civic engagement. This study examines various national safety initiatives, including Japan’s J-Alert, China’s Beijing 110, Singapore’s SGSecure, and England/Wales’ Neighbourhood Watch, alongside Uzbekistan’s "Smart Mahalla" program. Launched in 2021 under Presidential Decree № PF-6196, "Smart Mahalla" spans 9,251 mahallas and had surpassed 100,000 downloads by June 2023, with over 10,000 requests recorded in Tashkent that year [Google Play, 2023; Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2023].
Applying the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the analysis highlights unique adoption patterns. J-Alert reaches 90% of Japan’s population within 4 to 20 seconds [Japan Meteorological Agency, 2023], Beijing 110 processes over 2 million reports annually [Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, 2023], SGSecure facilitates actionable responses [Singapore Police Force, 2023], and Neighbourhood Watch strengthens community trust [Neighbourhood Watch Network, 2023]. In Uzbekistan, challenges such as 55% 4G rural connectivity and a 68% digital literacy rate hinder widespread adoption, further exacerbated by the lack of detailed crime statistics [Ministry of Digital Technologies, 2023; UNDP, 2022; Ministry of Internal Affairs, 2023]. While Decree № PF-6196 mandates secure data handling, it does not include specific provisions for user privacy [President of Uzbekistan, 2021].
These findings underscore the need for infrastructure development and clearer legal frameworks. Uzbekistan’s experience highlights broader global challenges, particularly in balancing technological advancements with data accessibility and security.