Judge denies xAI’s request to pause Minnesota nudification ban

Minnesota’s ban on AI-generated non-consensual nude imagery is moving forward as planned, after a federal judge declined xAI’s bid to hit the brakes on the law before it takes effect on August 1, 2026. The ruling means Elon Musk’s AI company, along with every other provider operating in the state, now faces potential penalties of up to $500,000 per violation under HF 1606. What xAI argued, and why it didn’t work xAI filed its lawsuit on July 27, 2026, in the US District Court for Minnesota, just days before the law was set to kick in. The case, filed against Attorney General Keith Ellison, challenges HF 1606 on constitutional grounds. xAI says it supports efforts to prevent non-consensual deepfakes, but contends the law is excessively broad. The company argues the statute punishes AI providers regardless of what safeguards they’ve built or whether they had any intent to cause harm. Under HF 1606, if your AI tool can generate or alter images to depict someone in intimate scenarios without consent, you’re on the hook regardless of how many content filters you’ve deployed. xAI sought both declaratory relief, asking the court to rule the statute unconstitutional under the First Amendme...