MPR News- Minnesota's nudification law passed nearly unanimously in the House with a vote of 132-1 and in the Senate with a vote of 65-0 during the 2026 legislative session.
- xAI, owned by Elon Musk, filed a lawsuit against Minnesota just days before the law's enforcement on August 1.
- The lawsuit argues that Minnesota's law is an unconstitutional ban on free speech, claiming it imposes an overbroad, content-based restriction.
- The law prohibits the use of nudification technology and allows affected parties to sue platforms for damages, with fines up to $500,000 for violations.
- The law will still go into effect on August 1 unless a judge intervenes to halt its enforcement.
- The law aims to protect children from sexual exploitation by banning AI-generated nudification images.
- Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated that his office will vigorously defend the law in court.
- The law has been introduced in response to a significant increase in child sexual abuse material linked to nudification technology.
Elon Musk's xAI has initiated a legal challenge against Minnesota's groundbreaking law prohibiting AI nudification technology, which is set to take effect on August 1. The law, the first of its kind in the U.S., aims to protect children from sexual exploitation by banning the creation of pornographic images without consent.
In its lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Minnesota, xAI contends that the law imposes an unconstitutional ban on free speech and the tools of visual expression. The company argues that the law is overbroad and violates the First Amendment, as it punishes platforms for user-generated content without providing a safe harbor.3
The law threatens companies with fines up to $500,000 for each violation, regardless of preventive measures taken. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated, “Using AI to generate nude images of people against their will is appalling,” emphasizing the law's intent to combat the surge in child sexual abuse material, which has increased by 26,000% due to such technologies.7
The legislation received overwhelming support, passing the House 132-1 and the Senate 65-0. Rep. Jess Hanson criticized Musk's opposition, calling it “absolutely disgusting” and asserting that the law is essential for protecting children from exploitation. Ellison's office plans to vigorously defend the law in court once the complaint is served.
“The Minnesota law, which passed with overwhelming support, aims to protect children from sexual exploitation by prohibiting AI-generated nudification. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated his office will vigorously defend the law in court, emphasizing the urgent need to combat the surge in child sexual abuse material linked to such technologies.”
MN House of Representatives (.gov)
