Minnesota has become the first state in the country to outlaw so-called “nudification” apps – the artificial intelligence tools that take an ordinary photo of a fully clothed person and generate a fake explicit image of them without their knowledge or consent. The measure cleared the state Senate by a unanimous 65 to 0 vote and now heads to the governor’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.
The unanimous tally is striking in an era when almost no legislation draws support from every member of a chamber. On this issue, every senator who cast a vote said yes – a signal of how broadly lawmakers across the political spectrum view the harm these tools can cause.
What the New Law Does
The legislation takes direct aim at the companies and websites that build and profit from these apps, rather than targeting everyday users. Under the bill, people who are victimized by a fabricated explicit image would gain the right to sue the makers of the tools directly. The state attorney general would also be empowered to pursue civil penalties reaching as high as $500,000 for each violation.
The goal, supporters say, is to choke off the technology at its source. Rather than chasing down every anonymous individual who misuses an app, the law goes after the businesses that make mass-produced fakery possible in the first place. The bill includes an exemption for general-purpose editing software that requires genuine technical skill to manipulate an image, so the focus stays on tools built specifically to undress people in photos automatically.
A Growing Problem With Few Rules
Backers of the measure argue the technology has spread rapidly with almost no guardrails. In a matter of seconds, anyone can upload a normal photograph and receive a convincing fake in return. The images can then circulate online before the person depicted even learns one exists.
Advocates point in particular to the toll on ordinary people, including teenagers and students who have found themselves turned into targets overnight. Schools, parents, and law enforcement across the country have reported a surge in cases involving fabricated images of minors and classmates, often shared among peers. For victims, the experience can be deeply damaging – and until now, many had little legal recourse against the platforms that enabled it.
Building on Earlier Legislation
The new bill does not arrive in a vacuum. It builds on a 2023 Minnesota law that already made it a crime to create and distribute harmful deepfakes – digitally altered images and videos designed to deceive. That earlier statute carried penalties of up to five years behind bars for the most serious offenses, establishing the state as an early mover on the issue.
This latest measure expands the focus from individual offenders to the underlying technology itself, attacking the supply of these tools rather than only punishing their misuse after the fact.
Why It Matters Beyond Minnesota
Lawmakers and advocates in other states are watching closely. As the first state to ban the apps outright, Minnesota could become a template that others copy. Several states have already passed or proposed laws addressing explicit deepfakes, but this approach – holding the app makers themselves financially liable – represents a new front in the fight.
For everyday Americans, the stakes are simple. The same artificial intelligence that powers helpful tools can also be turned against private citizens with a few clicks. A law that gives victims a clear way to fight back, and that puts real financial pressure on the companies behind these apps, marks one of the most concrete responses yet to a problem that has outpaced the rules meant to govern it.
Whether Minnesota’s model spreads will likely depend on how it holds up in practice – and on whether the threat of steep fines and lawsuits is enough to push these tools offline.
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