The Norwegian politician who proposed it announced that WikiLeaks has been nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, even though the deadline for nominations has already passed. The Norwegian Nobel Committee accepts nominations until February 1st, with panel members having until the end of the month to make their own suggestions. According to Norwegian parliamentarian Snorre Valen, WikiLeaks has played a significant role in promoting freedom of speech and transparency in the 21st century by revealing information about corruption, human rights violations, and war crimes. Valen believes that WikiLeaks is a strong candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. Nominations can be made by members of national parliaments, law or political science professors, and previous winners. The committee chose not to provide a statement regarding the WikiLeaks proposal or any other nominations. Washington is outraged at WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange for releasing confidential documents and diplomatic cables that have reportedly harmed US interests overseas, including peace efforts. Assange, an Australian, is facing extradition to Sweden from Britain for questioning in a sexual assault case, which he and his supporters believe is a deliberate attempt to shut down WikiLeaks, a non-profit organization supported by the public and human rights groups. Awarding WikiLeaks the Nobel Prize would likely spark criticism of the Nobel Committee, which has faced controversy for its recent selections 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 given to those who have made significant contributions to promoting peace and unity between nations, reducing standing armies, and supporting peace conferences. In recent years, the committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament has expanded Nobel's criteria to include human rights, climate activism, and micro-financing. This has been criticized by traditionalists. Observers believe that awarding a prize to WikiLeaks would emphasize the growing importance of specialized internet platforms and social media in driving global change. Platforms like Twitter and YouTube have played significant roles in mobilizing citizens, particularly in countries with restrictive official media like Egypt. Kristian Berg Harpviken of the PRIO peace think tank in Oslo suggested that this year's Nobel Prize could focus on the innovative use of technology for peace, and he anticipated that a woman would be the recipient after a string of male winners. He predicted that the prize could go to the Russian human rights organization Memorial and its leader, Svetlana Gannushkina.