New Minnesota law bans AI ‘nudification’ apps after court rejects xAI bid to block it

Minnesota has introduced a new law banning AI-powered "nudification" applications that digitally alter images of identifiable people to create fake nude or sexually explicit content without their consent. The legislation, which took effect on Saturday, is aimed at addressing the growing misuse of artificial intelligence in creating non-consensual manipulated images.

Under the law, nudification refers to AI-generated alterations that expose intimate body parts of recognizable individuals with minimal user effort, rather than through manual artistic editing. Victims now have the legal right to sue companies that provide such tools, while app developers and platforms may face civil penalties of up to $500,000 for every image created and each time that altered image is accessed. The financial liability could become enormous if manipulated images spread widely online. Just before the law came into force, xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, attempted to block its enforcement through a federal lawsuit.

However, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank rejected the request, noting that the company waited too long to seek emergency relief. xAI argues that the law is overly broad and could unintentionally restrict AI-generated satire, parody, and other lawful creative content. The legal challenge references humorous AI-generated images of public figures as examples that could potentially fall under the law's scope. The legislation also follows previous controversies involving AI-generated sexualized images, including reports that earlier versions of Grok created thousands of manipulated images involving real people, including minors.

Following public criticism, X stated that it had significantly restricted those capabilities and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward child exploitation, non-consensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content. Minnesota's new legislation represents one of the strongest state-level actions against AI-generated deepfake nudity, reflecting growing concerns over privacy, consent, and the misuse of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence technologies.

The law also highlights the increasing pressure on AI companies to develop stronger safeguards while balancing innovation with legal and ethical responsibilities.