Companies sue to block Minnesota's AI nudification ban; sponsors expect court review

Speakers at the announcement described litigation filed by companies including entities connected to Elon Musk and other plaintiffs seeking to prevent the law from taking effect. Sen. McQuaid called the suits "audacious" and noted other lawsuits have been filed in the U.K., Arkansas, and Tennessee regarding AI-generated nonconsensual imagery.

When asked whether the litigation could delay implementation, Sen. McQuaid said a judge could issue a temporary restraining order between now and Saturday that would affect enforcement, but she said she expects courts to examine how the statute balances First Amendment protections and noted the bill was written to focus on conduct rather than protected expression. Sponsors said they anticipate defending the law in court and that similar legal challenges have not always succeeded in blocking enforcement.