Minnesota's AI Nudification Ban Enforced Amid Legal Challenge

Minnesota's new law prohibiting AI nudification technology took effect on August 1, 2026, after U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank denied xAI's emergency motion to block it. The judge noted that xAI's delay in filing the motion suggested that any potential harm was not immediate, as the request came nearly three months after the law was signed.

The statute, known as H.F. 1606, prohibits the alteration of images to depict intimate parts that were not originally present, and it bars the promotion of services that offer such alterations. The law includes an exemption for tools requiring user technical skill and maintains federal liability protections under Section 230. Violators could face civil penalties of up to $500,000, with proceeds directed to organizations aiding survivors of sexual violence and other crimes.

xAI's lawsuit claims the law infringes on First Amendment rights and is overly broad, suggesting less restrictive alternatives exist. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who signed the bill, responded to the lawsuit on social media, indicating a readiness for legal confrontation. The law has emerged in response to concerns about xAI's Grok chatbot, which faced criticism for generating sexualized deepfakes, leading to threats of removal from app stores. Free-speech advocates are divided on the law's implications, with some arguing it does not adequately balance free expression with the need to address real harms.