WikiLeaks, Net nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

WikiLeaks and Internet are among the 241 2011 candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

(Credit: Short)

Nobel's appointment comes as Julian Assange, spokesman for the secret-sharing site, is facing possible extradition to Sweden on charges of sex-related, and a criminal probe on charges of spying is likely underway in Washington, D.C..

Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize can come from any Professor of "social sciences, history, philosophy, law and theology," in addition to national Governments and former recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, according to the rules of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize have included Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, the United Nations and Kofi Annan, Al Gore, Desmond Tutu and Henry Kissinger. They are awarded by a Committee composed of officials of the current and former Norwegian Government.

The Committee announces nominees, but individuals who have submitted proposals are free to disclose it.

"Looking at the long term, we can say interest is strong and growing with the number of candidates," Geir Lundestad's notion, a member of the Group of experts, without voting told Reuters. Winners will be announced in October.

The Internet may have been named one of the reasons is the role in catalyzing uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Activists coordinated protests using Facebook and instant messaging services, and filed dispatches with YouTube and Twitter, leader of a complete disconnect in serious interruptions in Egypt and Libya.