A federal judge has denied xAI’s request to block a Minnesota law banning apps that allow users to digitally “nudify” images, allowing the legislation to take effect as scheduled on August 1, 2026.
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank ruled against xAI’s request for a temporary restraining order, citing the company’s timing as a key factor. Frank noted that xAI filed its request on July 29, 2026 — nearly three months after the law was signed and just three days before it was set to take effect. “Such a delay in bringing the action and the motion suggests that harm is not immediate,” Frank wrote.
The ruling does not end xAI’s lawsuit against the ban; it only means the law can remain in force while the legal challenge proceeds. In its suit, xAI argued that the ban — described as the first of its kind in the United States — is “overinclusive” and that “there are far less restrictive alternatives that function to achieve the same ends.”
xAI is the artificial intelligence company behind the Grok chatbot. Both xAI and Elon Musk’s social media platform X are now part of SpaceX. Earlier in 2026, users on X used Grok to generate and spread non-consensual sexualized images on the platform, which led to investigations and bans.
The case may carry broader significance as Minnesota’s law is reportedly the first U.S. ban of its kind targeting nudify applications. The outcome of xAI’s ongoing lawsuit could influence how similar legislation is crafted or challenged in other states.
Source: TechCrunch