Judge denies xAI’s request to block Minnesota ban on ‘nudify’ apps

A federal judge has cleared the path for Minnesota to implement its pioneering ban on applications that generate non-consensual sexual imagery, commonly referred to as "nudify" apps. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank rejected a request from xAI for a temporary restraining order, allowing the legislation to take effect as scheduled on August 1, 2026.

The Timing Factor

The court’s decision was heavily influenced by the procedural timeline of the challenge. Judge Frank noted that xAI waited until July 29—nearly three months after the bill was signed into law and just 72 hours before its enforcement date—to file for an emergency injunction.

"Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate," Judge Frank stated in his ruling.

Legal Challenges Ahead

While the law is now active, the broader legal battle is far from over. xAI continues to challenge the statute, arguing that the legislation is constitutionally "overinclusive." The company maintains that there are less restrictive regulatory methods available to achieve the state’s objectives without imposing such a broad ban.

• Key Context: This legislation marks the first of its kind in the United States.
• Background: The issue gained national attention earlier this year when users of Elon Musk’s platform, X, leveraged the Grok chatbot to generate and circulate non-consensual sexualized imagery, sparking widespread investigations.

The lawsuit will proceed through the court system, but for now, the state’s new policy remains in full force.