The Supreme Court of Norway has ruled that journalist Bjørn Haugan must testify in the case against Stein Lier-Hansen, the former chief of Norsk Industri. Haugan had sought to avoid testifying by claiming protection under source confidentiality laws. However, the court stated that granting his request would broaden the source protection laws too far, to cover information that is only theoretically capable of revealing a source.

The case has been contentious, as Haugan has already been through several lower courts in his attempts to avoid being called as a witness. The Supreme Court's decision confirms the Oslo Court's earlier ruling that Haugan does not have a valid reason to refuse to testify in this specific case. The implications of this ruling may resonate beyond this particular situation, potentially affecting the established boundaries of journalistic privilege in Norway.

As the media world observes this case closely, VG's head of news, Andreas Arnseth, acknowledged receipt of the Supreme Court's decision and indicated that the editorial team would now thoroughly analyze the implications of the court ruling. The outcome may have significant impacts not only on Haugan's professional responsibilities but also on how journalists in Norway navigate the fine line between their duty to inform and the protection of their sources.