The Norwegian Ministry of Defense has tasked the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment to assess the impartiality of its employees who were involved in collaboration with the mask company Watchbird. Recent revelations by VG have shown that a researcher from the establishment and Watchbird's director, Rune Jomaas, played golf together on eleven occasions, which is more frequent than previously acknowledged. Out of these rounds, three were considered 'private', while the remainder were associated with work-related events, raising questions about the appropriateness of their interactions.

This situation stems from the government's halted agreement to purchase face masks priced at 100 million NOK, which was suspended in January following concerns of conflict of interest. The Norwegian Defense Research Establishment is now under scrutiny to ensure compliance with impartiality regulations amidst the serious implications of their prior engagement with Watchbird. These developments indicate that the transparency of dealings in public agencies is under examination, especially when substantial sums of taxpayer money are involved.

The implications of this case reach beyond immediate concerns about the suggested conflict of interest; it may lead to stricter regulations regarding the interactions between government employees and private companies. As the investigation unfolds, the public and the government will be looking for clarity on the integrity of processes in defense procurement, which could redefine standard practices and accountability in such engagements.