Federal Appeals Court Halts Minnesota’s AI Nudification Ban

A federal appeals court has suspended Minnesota’s prohibition on AI-generated “nudification” images, siding with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence firm, xAI. On Friday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a brief order granting an injunction that pauses enforcement of the statute as the company’s legal challenge moves forward.

The appellate court’s decision overturns a preliminary ruling from September, when a lower court judge allowed the law to remain in effect during litigation. The 8th Circuit did not provide a written explanation for its reversal.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office expressed disappointment in the ruling. In a statement released Sunday, a spokesperson for the office said it “respectfully but strongly disagrees” with the decision. The office affirmed its commitment to defending the legislation, describing it as a critical measure to prohibit AI tools from generating sexual images intended to harm and harass individuals.

Enacted in May and signed by Governor Tim Walz, the state law represents the first of its kind in the nation. It makes it illegal to use artificial intelligence to transform a person’s likeness into pornographic or sexually explicit material without consent. The legislation passed with unanimous support in the state Senate and near-unanimous backing in the House.

Under the statute, companies found in violation face civil penalties of up to $500,000, while victims are permitted to seek damages. xAI filed the lawsuit just three days before the law’s scheduled August 1生效 date, arguing that the ban violates First Amendment protections. The company contended that the statute imposes an overly broad, content-based restriction on free speech and visual expression tools.

Following the lower court’s initial September ruling, Attorney General Ellison stated he was “extremely proud” to defend the law. WCCO has contacted the attorney general’s office for additional comment.