Minnesota’s groundbreaking law banning apps that create non-consensual sexualized images went into effect on August 1, 2026. A federal judge denied Elon Musk’s xAI request to temporarily block the rule just days before it became enforceable.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank ruled against xAI’s emergency motion. His decision rested not on the law’s content but on the timing of xAI’s challenge. The company waited nearly three months after the law was signed before rushing to court, filing the restraining order only three days ahead of the deadline.
The law carries a hefty penalty of $500,000 for each violation and came after public outrage over xAI’s Grok chatbot, which was used to generate non-consensual nudified images on X.
The court’s ruling allows Minnesota to start enforcing its ban immediately while the broader legal battle continues. Judge Frank emphasized that the delay in xAI’s legal action suggested there was no immediate harm, weakening their case for urgent relief.
xAI’s lawsuit itself argues that Minnesota’s law is too broad, potentially restricting constitutionally protected images and overlooks less restrictive ways to address the issue.
This material is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
