Judge Denies xAI Request to Block Minnesota's 'Nudify' App Ban
A U.S. District Judge denied xAI’s request for a temporary restraining order against Minnesota’s ban on apps that allow users to generate explicit images from clothed photos, known as “nudify” apps. The judge emphasized the timing of the lawsuit—filed just three days before the law was set to take effect—as evidence that harm is not immediate. The ruling does not end xAI's legal challenge but allows the ban to proceed while litigation continues. In its suit, xAI argued the law is overly broad and infringes on free speech by blocking less restrictive alternatives. The case has broader implications for AI regulation in the U.S., as Minnesota’s legislation marks one of the first state-level attempts to address deepfake pornography. Earlier this year, users of Elon Musk's X platform used xAI’s Grok chatbot to generate and share non-consensual sexual images, prompting investigations. Both X and xAI are now part of SpaceX.
Topics: AI Government & Policy xAI