Elon Musk's Nobel Peace Prize nomination sparks controversy amid legacy of free speech debates

Marius Nilsen announced his choice in the local newspaper "Agderposten". He nominated Musk for his "tireless defence of dialogue, freedom of speech and facilitation of the sharing of views in an increasingly polarised world". The Norwegian MP commented that Musk's tech companies have contributed to making the world a more interconnected and safer place.

Nilsen also noted the Starlink internet satellite constellation provided by Musk following Russia's attack on Ukraine. The politician pointed out its usage by the Ukrainian military to "communicate, coordinate and resist attacks from Russia" in the ongoing conflict.

Musk's nomination, particularly for "defending freedom of speech", has caused controversy. The billionaire purchased Twitter in April 2022, proclaiming the need to shield freedom of speech and declaring himself an "absolutist" in this regard. In Musk's view, this included the reinstatement of several previously banned accounts, such as Andrew Tate and Donald Trump.

Musk banned a user for revealing the location of his jet - a decision he later defended by claiming that the preservation of freedom of speech allowed him to do so. The billionaire also encountered criticism when he suggested that he might ban accounts primarily used to promote competitive platforms. Following the change of the site's name to X in 2022, his staff alleged that they were dismissed for voicing concerns about colleagues who were sacked for criticizing Musk.

The list of controversies surrounding Musk, who hails from the Republic of South Africa, is quite extensive. Even prior to taking over Twitter, Musk had been a provocative figure. His car manufacturing company, Tesla, was accused of colluding with the Chinese government to censor critics online.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee selects a laureate annually from a long list of candidates. Nominations are accepted from former laureates, government representatives, and the academic community. Notable past nominees include Russian President Vladimir Putin (nominated in 2020), Joseph Stalin (1945 and 1948) and Adolf Hitler (1939).

In January, U.S. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney nominated Donald Trump for the award. This is not the first occasion that the former US president has received a nomination.

In contrast, Sofie Marhaug, a Norwegian MP from the left-wing Red Party, nominated journalist Julian Assange. She justified her decision in the newspaper "Dagbladet" stating, "Julian Assange exposed Western war crimes and subsequently contributed to peace. We need transparency about the impact of war if we want to prevent it. Assange publicized the torture and inhumane treatment of war prisoners. He has earned consideration for the Peace Prize."

Sources: politico.eu, dailymail.co.uk