Judge upholds Minnesota's AI nudification ban as xAI's lawsuit continues

A federal judge has rejected Elon Musk’s xAI’s second attempt to block Minnesota’s law banning AI-generated sexualized or “nudified” images, allowing the statute to remain in effect while the company’s constitutional lawsuit proceeds. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank ruled that xAI had not shown irreparable harm and that the balance of harms and public interest strongly favored the state, noting the law’s near-unanimous bipartisan passage and the risks associated with nonconsensual sexual imagery. The law, which took effect Aug. 1, imposes civil penalties of up to $500,000 for unlawful access or distribution of such images and permits victims to seek damages. xAI argues the measure is an overbroad, content-based restriction on free speech and visual-expression tools, while Minnesota officials say it is necessary to protect people from harassment and abuse. The case will continue through future proceedings addressing whether the law violates constitutional rights.