Elon Musk has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his work championing free speech and allowing Ukraine to "communicate" after Russia's invasion.
According to DailyMail, the tech billionaire is joining an exclusive group of the world's foremost actors for change, which consists of conservationists, journalists, political activists, and religious leaders, for being a "stout proponent for free speech."
Who Nominated Elon Musk for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Marius Nilsen, a Norwegian member of parliament who is a member of the libertarian Progress Party, put forward the X owner's nomination because of his "adamant defense of dialogue, free speech and [enabling] the possibility to express one's views" in an increasingly divided world.
Nilsen also praised Elon Musk for his decision to provide Starlink satellite internet service, operated by SpaceX, in Ukraine for soldiers to "communicate, coordinate and withstand the attack from Russia" as the war continues.
Last week, Starlink won a license for the same use in Israel and parts of Gaza amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
"The multitude of tech companies Musk has founded, owns or runs, aimed at bettering societies, increasing knowledge of both earth and space, in addition to enabling communication and connectivity globally... has helped make the world a more connected and safer place," Nilsen said as Daily Mail reported.
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize
Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize are open to individuals who meet specific criteria, including works in academia or government and previous prize recipients. The selection process involves compiling a shortlist of candidates in March before judges review the nominees for announcement in October.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, comprising five anonymous individuals appointed by the country's parliament, will decide the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize from a list of several hundred nominations each year.
Nominators must submit their entries by January 31 for consideration before the shortlist is prepared. Nilsen told DailyMail that he had already entered Elon Musk for his commitment to free speech and global connectivity.
Aside from the SpaceX founder, other prominent nominees in the Peace Prize include former US president Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Colombian president Gustavo Petro, Australian activist Julian Assange, British environmentalist David Attenborough, UN chief António Guterres, Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary, and NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.
Besides X and SpaceX, Musk also heads brain implant startup Neuralink, electric car maker Tesla, and tunnel-digging firm The Boring Company.
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