Was the Nobel Peace Prize Hacked? Machado Winner Leak Sparks Controversy

Nobel Committee Reveals Leak of Peace Prize Laureate's Name
Odds on U.S. Betting Site Soar from 3.75% to 73%
"IT Network Vulnerabilities Found... Focus on Preventing Recurrence"

It has been revealed that the name of last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate was leaked before the official announcement.

Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate last year. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

On the 30th (local time), Yonhap News, citing AFP and other sources, reported that "the Norwegian Nobel Committee has confirmed that the name of last year's Nobel Peace Prize laureate, which was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, was leaked prior to the official announcement." On the same day, Kristian Berg Harpviken, Secretary of the Nobel Committee, stated, "We have not identified exactly what happened or who was behind it, but we believe the digital domain is a likely suspect."

The Nobel Committee announced Machado as the Nobel Peace Prize laureate at 11 a.m. on October 10 last year. However, before the announcement, suspicions were raised that "the winner's information may have been leaked in advance" when there was a surge in online betting on Machado's victory on the American betting site 'Polymarket' in the early morning hours of the same day, Norwegian time.

In fact, on that site, the probability of Machado winning the Nobel Peace Prize was 3.75% just after midnight, but soared to about 73% in less than two hours. At that time, Yulia Navalnaya, wife of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, and US President Donald Trump were considered leading candidates, and Machado had not even been mentioned as a Nobel candidate among the media or experts.

As a result, there were suspicions that someone had obtained the winner's information in advance, prompting the Nobel Committee to immediately launch an investigation. Secretary Harpviken stated, "One of Norway's intelligence agencies was involved to determine whether the incident was the work of an insider, a criminal organization, or the result of state-level espionage, but it still remains unclear who leaked the information and how." According to AFP, Secretary Harpviken told the local daily Verdens Gang (VG), "It would not be excessive to consider the possibility that the perpetrator was a state," indicating that the possibility of state-level espionage was not ruled out.

He added, "It has not been confirmed whether the ultimate purpose of the leak was for financial gain or to undermine the credibility of the Nobel Peace Prize," and "the Nobel Committee is focusing on preventing similar incidents in the future." It was also reported that the Nobel Committee identified vulnerabilities in their IT network and took steps to improve them.

US President Donald Trump received a large gold frame containing the Nobel Peace Prize medal from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. White House Truth Social

Meanwhile, last month on the 15th, Machado caused controversy over the political use of the Nobel Prize when she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump during a meeting. Afterwards, President Trump stated regarding the Venezuela issue, "We could involve (Machado) in some way." He also said of Machado, "An incredibly outstanding woman has done something truly remarkable," adding, "I wish I could do that. Maria, we can do it."

Meanwhile, Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, is reportedly making efforts to improve relations with the United States, including a large-scale amnesty for opposition figures currently in detention.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.