NSA leaker Edward Snowden has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The nomination was made Wednesday by two Norwegian politicians, Snorre Valen and Bård Vegar Solhjell, who say Snowden made the world more safe by revealing the scope of U.S. data monitoring. Solhjell is Norway’s former environment and education minister from the Socialist Left Party, and Valen is a fellow member of parliament.
“There is no doubt that the actions of Edward Snowden may have damaged the security interests of several nations in the short term,” the two wrote in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. “We are, however, convinced that the public debate and change in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order.”
The two added that the “level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to have stunned us, and stirred debate," adding that revelations of widespread surveillance "led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies."
Last year, A Swedish professor named Stefan Svallfors nominated Snowden for the prize.
Nominations for the prestigious award can be made by government officials, previous winners, university professors and members of international organizations.
Last year, the Nobel committee received 259 nominations, a record number. The winner was the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The deadline for 2014 nominations is February 1, and this year’s winner will be announced October 10.
The nomination was made Wednesday by two Norwegian politicians, Snorre Valen and Bård Vegar Solhjell, who say Snowden made the world more safe by revealing the scope of U.S. data monitoring. Solhjell is Norway’s former environment and education minister from the Socialist Left Party, and Valen is a fellow member of parliament.
“There is no doubt that the actions of Edward Snowden may have damaged the security interests of several nations in the short term,” the two wrote in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee. “We are, however, convinced that the public debate and change in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistleblowing has contributed to a more stable and peaceful world order.”
The two added that the “level of sophistication and depth of surveillance that citizens all over the world are subject to have stunned us, and stirred debate," adding that revelations of widespread surveillance "led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies."
Last year, A Swedish professor named Stefan Svallfors nominated Snowden for the prize.
Nominations for the prestigious award can be made by government officials, previous winners, university professors and members of international organizations.
Last year, the Nobel committee received 259 nominations, a record number. The winner was the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The deadline for 2014 nominations is February 1, and this year’s winner will be announced October 10.
