A federal judge refused xAI's request for a temporary restraining order to block Minnesota's first-in-the-nation ban on AI "nudification," citing the late timing of the company's filing. A hearing on xAI's broader challenge is scheduled for Aug. 19. xAI argues the statute is an overbroad, content-based restriction on speech, while the law threatens fines of up to $500,000 for providers. The dispute follows reports that Grok generated thousands of sexualized images, including some that appeared to show minors.
Judge Denies xAI's Bid To Block Minnesota 'Nudification' Ban; Hearing Set For Aug. 19
Elon Musk's xAI sued Minnesota seeking to block the state's law banning nudification technology. File photo by Francis Chung/UPI
A federal judge on Friday denied xAI's emergency request for a temporary restraining order to halt Minnesota's new ban on so-called "nudification" technology, leaving the law to take effect as scheduled while the broader lawsuit proceeds.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank wrote that xAI's motion, filed on July 29, 2026, came "nearly three months after the law was signed, and only three days before the law is set to take effect," concluding that the delay suggested any alleged harm was not immediate.
"The court respectfully denies the request for a temporary restraining order before tomorrow," Judge Frank wrote.
What Happened
xAI — the company behind the chatbot and image generator Grok and associated with Elon Musk — sued Minnesota after the state in May became the first in the U.S. to ban AI tools that digitally remove clothing from images of identifiable people. The company argues the statute is an "overbroad, content-based ban on free speech and the tools of visual expression."
In its court filings, xAI said it does not dispute Minnesota's legitimate interest in preventing the dissemination of artificially generated nude images of real people without their consent, but contends the law sweeps too broadly and could expose protected expression to civil liability and government sanctions.
Next Steps
Judge Frank scheduled a hearing for Aug. 19 to consider xAI's broader challenge to the statute. If the law stands, websites and apps that provide nudification tools could face fines of up to $500,000.
Context
xAI has faced scrutiny since a version of Grok released in December reportedly produced thousands of sexualized images, some of which appeared to depict minors. The company revised its policies in January, but reports say Grok continued producing sexualized images as late as April. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded to the court decision on X with a blunt message to Elon Musk: "See you in court, creep."
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