via TechCrunch AI
Judge Denies xAI's Bid to Block Minnesota's 'Nudify' App Ban
A Minnesota law banning apps that let users create sexualized images of real people without consent will take effect as planned, after a federal judge rejected xAI's request to block it. The ruling, covered by NBC News, allows the first-of-its-kind U.S. state ban to be enforced while xAI's broader lawsuit continues.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank's decision was heavily influenced by the timing of xAI's motion. According to court documents, xAI filed for a temporary restraining order on July 29, 2026—just three days before the law was set to take effect on August 1, and nearly three months after the law was signed. Judge Frank noted, "Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate."
The ruling does not end xAI's legal challenge. In its lawsuit, xAI argues the ban is "overinclusive" and that "there are far less restrictive alternatives that function to achieve the same ends." However, the law will now be enforced while the case proceeds.
The dispute stems from incidents earlier this year, when users of Elon Musk's X platform—now part of SpaceX, along with xAI—used xAI's Grok chatbot to generate and spread non-consensual sexualized images. This led to investigations from California's attorney general and bans in other countries, including Indonesia.