xAI challenges Minnesota’s AI nudification ban

xAI urged a federal judge in St. Paul to block Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation ban on AI “nudification,” arguing the statute violates the First Amendment by restricting content and sweeping in protected expression. The company said the law could penalize lawful uses such as consent-based edits, artistic expression and satirical parody because it lacks explicit carve-outs.

The challenged statute, HF 1606, bars owners or operators of websites, apps or software from allowing users to “nudify” or sexually alter images with AI generation. Violations carry penalties of up to $500,000. xAI told the court it already bans nude or sexualized images of real people without consent, while Minnesota said platform policies are insufficient and cited reports of tens of thousands of users creating images.

Minnesota argued the law regulates harmful image-modification technology and said studies show around 95% of all deepfake and manipulated images are nonconsensual and sexually explicit representations of others. The federal government filed in support of xAI, warning that the law covers constitutional conduct not barred by federal law. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank took the injunction request under advisement and said he would rule as soon as possible.