Judge again refuses to block Minnesota AI nudification ban in xAI case
U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank on Friday, September 4, 2026, denied xAI's follow-up motion for a preliminary injunction, keeping Minnesota's ban on AI "nudification" in effect while the lawsuit proceeds.[1]
The ruling reiterated that xAI had not met the legal standard required to block enforcement, the same conclusion the court reached when it denied a temporary restraining order on July 31.[1] The statute is written to target website operators and software developers who enable AI "nudification," and it bans advertising or promotion of such products.[1] The law also allows private lawsuits with damages of at least $500,000 for each alleged unlawful access.[1]
xAI, the AI company founded by Elon Musk, filed the challenge and argued in Minnesota court that the law would curtail its technology during hearings in August.[2] Judge Frank denied xAI's temporary restraining order request on July 31 and again found the company had not shown it was entitled to injunctive relief.[1]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, September 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank denied xAI’s follow‑up motion for a preliminary injunction, leaving the nudification ban in force while the case proceeds.
- The ruling reiterated that xAI has not met the legal standard to block enforcement, the same conclusion the court reached when it denied a temporary restraining order on July 31.
- The statute is aimed at website operators and software developers who enable AI “nudification.”
- The law allows private suits with damages of at least $500,000 per unlawful access.
- The statute also bans advertising or promotion of nudification products.
- These developments were reported by FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul on Friday, September 4, 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank has now denied xAI’s follow‑up motion for a preliminary injunction, leaving the nudification ban in force while the case proceeds.
- The ruling reiterates that xAI has not met the standard to block enforcement, just as the court held on July 31 when it denied a temporary restraining order.
- The article consolidates how the statute works in practice: it targets website operators and software developers who enable AI ‘nudification,’ allows private suits for at least $500,000 per unlawful access, and bans advertising or promotion of nudification products.