Disclosing Journalistic Sources Already Revealed. The Becker v. Norway Case

The journalist’s protection under Art. 10 ECHR cannot automatically be removed by virtue of a source’s own conduct. Source protection applies even when a source’s identity is known. Having regard to the importance of the protection of journalistic sources for press freedom in a democratic society and the potentially chilling effect an order of source disclosure has on the exercise of that freedom, a judicial order aimed to obtain the disclosure of the journalist’s source, even when the source revealed freely this information, cannot be compatible with Art. 10 of the Convention unless it is justified by an overriding requirement in the public interest.