Judge allows Minnesota ban on 'nudify' apps to proceed

A federal judge has declined to block a Minnesota law restricting “nudify” applications, allowing the state’s ban to proceed despite a legal challenge from xAI, according to TechCrunch AI. The ruling denies xAI’s request for relief while the underlying lawsuit continues.

The Minnesota law targets applications that use artificial intelligence to generate nude or sexually explicit images of individuals without their consent, often by digitally altering existing photographs. xAI, the company founded by Elon Musk that develops the Grok chatbot and related AI tools, had sought to prevent the law from taking effect, arguing against the restriction in court. The judge’s decision means the ban can be enforced as the case moves forward, though TechCrunch AI’s report does not specify the full reasoning behind the ruling or the exact provisions of the statute being challenged.

The case marks an early test of how courts will treat state efforts to regulate AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery, a category of content that has drawn growing legislative attention as image-generation tools have become more accessible. Minnesota is among the states that have moved to restrict such applications specifically, rather than relying solely on broader laws governing harassment or privacy.

TechCrunch AI reported the denial on August 1, 2026. Further proceedings in the lawsuit are expected to determine the law’s ultimate fate.