The Norwegian politician who proposed it announced that anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, just after the deadline for nominations had passed. The Norwegian Nobel Committee accepts nominations until February 1, with the five panel members having until the end of the month to make their own proposals. Norwegian parliamentarian Snorre Valen praised WikiLeaks for its contributions to freedom of speech and transparency, stating that their exposure of corruption, human rights abuses, and war crimes makes them a strong candidate for the prestigious award. Nominations can be made by members of national parliaments, law or political science professors, and previous winners. The committee has chosen not to make a statement regarding the WikiLeaks proposal or any other nominations. Washington is angry at WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange for releasing numerous secret documents and diplomatic cables that have allegedly harmed US interests overseas, including peace efforts. Assange, an Australian, is facing extradition from Britain to Sweden for questioning in a sex case. He and his supporters claim it is a smear campaign meant to shut down WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization funded by the public and human rights groups. Awarding WikiLeaks the Nobel Prize would likely lead to criticism of the Nobel Committee, which has faced controversy with its recent choices of jailed Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo and President Barack Obama shortly after his election. The definition of the Nobel Prize, established by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, states that it should be awarded to whoever has made the most significant contributions to promoting peace between nations, reducing standing armies, and organizing peace congresses. In recent years, the Nobel committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament has expanded Nobel's original definition to include areas like human rights, climate activism, and micro-financing. This decision has been criticized by those who adhere strictly to the traditional criteria for the Nobel Prize. Observers of the Nobel Prize believe that recognizing WikiLeaks with the award would emphasize the increasing influence of specialized online platforms and social media in driving global change. Platforms like Twitter and YouTube have been instrumental in mobilizing populations in countries with restricted access to mainstream media, as evidenced by the role they played in organizing anti-government protests in Egypt. Kristian Berg Harpviken, from the PRIO peace think tank in Oslo, suggested that this year's Nobel Prize could focus on the innovative use of new technologies to promote peace. He predicted that a woman would likely receive the prize this year, with his top choice being the Russian human rights organization Memorial and its leader, Svetlana Gannushkina.