MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Defends Anti-Nudification Law Against X.AI’s Request for Court Injunction

SAINT PAUL, MN (August 19, 2026) Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is defending the state’s new prohibition on artificial-intelligence nudification tools against an attempt by X.AI to suspend enforcement of the law while the company’s constitutional challenge proceeds.

A federal court scheduled a hearing Wednesday morning on X.AI’s request for a preliminary injunction.

The law prohibits commercial websites, applications, software and other services from allowing users to create realistic synthetic images that add intimate body parts to photographs or videos of identifiable people.

It places responsibility on companies providing the tools rather than on individual users. It also prohibits the advertising or promotion of products designed to perform the prohibited image manipulation.

The Legislature approved the measure with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Minnesota House voted 132-1, and the Senate approved it 65-0. Governor Tim Walz signed the bill May 7, and it took effect August 1.

X.AI, which operates the Grok artificial-intelligence service, filed its federal lawsuit July 27. The company contends that the law is overly broad and violates First Amendment protections by restricting tools capable of creating lawful expressive content.

The company has said its policies already prohibit users from generating nonconsensual sexual images and that it has taken legal action against people attempting to bypass its safeguards.

Minnesota argues that the law addresses a specific technology capable of producing deeply harmful sexual images of adults and children without their participation or permission.

On July 31, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank declined X.AI’s request for a temporary restraining order that would have stopped the law from taking effect the following day. The judge cited the company’s delay in seeking emergency relief but allowed its broader request for an injunction to proceed on an expedited schedule.

Ellison argues that X.AI cannot demonstrate the immediate and irreparable harm required for an injunction and is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its constitutional claims.

A preliminary injunction would temporarily prevent Minnesota from enforcing the statute against X.AI while the lawsuit continues. The hearing itself does not guarantee an immediate ruling.

Because the hearing was scheduled for August 19, the court’s decision should be checked before final publication if a ruling is issued later Wednesday.

The state’s legal position and supporting documents are available through the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.

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