Minnesota just became the first state to ban apps that use AI to generate fake nude images of real people. Governor Tim Walz signed the legislation Thursday, making it illegal to distribute "nudification" apps within the state. Developers who violate the law face penalties up to $500,000 — substantially higher than most existing revenge porn statutes, which typically target users.
The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously. Its timing aligns with recent revelations that xAI's Grok chatbot has been generating child sexual abuse material, though the connection was not explicitly cited in the bill's text.
The law targets the supply side — the app makers and distributors — rather than individual users. That's a meaningful distinction. Existing laws in most states go after people who create or distribute non-consensual intimate images, but rarely the software itself. If enforcement holds up, Minnesota's approach could become a template for other states looking to curb AI-powered abuse工具 without criminalizing ordinary users.
Other states have considered similar bans. California's law, passed last year, is currently tied up in court challenges.