Minnesota AI nudification ban paused by federal appeals court

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has granted a preliminary injunction to xAI, pausing the enforcement of a Minnesota law that bans the creation of AI-generated nonconsensual sexual imagery. The court's decision overturns a previous lower court ruling that had allowed the law to remain in effect during litigation.

Minnesota’s law, signed by Governor Tim Walz, prohibits software developers and website operators from allowing the creation of realistic images that depict an identifiable person's intimate body parts if those parts were not in the original photo. The state implemented the measure to combat the spread of AI-generated sexual abuse material. Under the statute, companies could face civil penalties of up to $500,000.

xAI, owned by Elon Musk, argues the law is unconstitutional and violates First Amendment protections regarding free speech and visual expression. The company maintains that its Grok Imagine tool has rigorous protections against generating such content and has even begun suing users who attempt to bypass these safeguards. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated the state will continue to defend the law as the legal process moves forward.