xAI, an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota regarding a new law that bans "nudification" technology. The law, signed by Governor Tim Walz, prohibits the creation of fake, sexualized images of individuals without their consent and is set to take effect on July 30, 2026. xAI's lawsuit claims that the law violates the First Amendment right to free speech and is overly broad, potentially leading to significant financial penalties for the company.
The lawsuit, filed against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, asserts that while xAI does not dispute the state's interest in preventing non-consensual nude images, the law extends beyond that aim, affecting a wide range of protected speech. xAI's attorneys indicated that the law could impose liabilities of up to $50 billion on companies that generate prohibited images. Furthermore, xAI expressed concerns that the law could criminalize benign depictions, such as men without shirts or individuals in swimsuits, and lacks a safe harbor provision for companies that already have policies against such uses.
The Minnesota House and Senate passed the bill with overwhelming support, with proponents arguing it targets pornographic content. Democratic state Senator Erin Maye Quade stated that the bill requires apps and platforms to disable nudification functions.