"I wasn’t looking to step into advocacy, but this felt important"
— The 82-year-old behind this very necessary bill, which is now officially a law in Minnesota. She’s got our vote.
US News
The Nation’s First “Nudification” Ban
What’s going on: AI “undressing” apps have (rightly) sparked plenty of concern. Now, Minnesota lawmakers are taking steps to outlaw them. Earlier this week, the state senate unanimously passed the country’s first ban on so-called “nudification” apps, which use AI imagery to manipulate pictures. These apps are a major source of nonconsensual deepfake imagery and have become more popular in recent years. Ew. Despite bans from web stores like Google and Apple, the apps are still easy to find. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram continue to run their ads, helping them reach a wide audience. Even more concerning: the apps are simple enough for kids to use. One report identified 23 cases of deepfake abuse targeting US schools since 2023.
Tell me more: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is expected to sign the bill that lets survivors sue app owners for damages. It also allows the state’s attorney general to fine companies up to $500,000 per violation. That’s significant because it gives survivors in the state a clear path to hold these platforms accountable. With no federal protection for victims, Florida and Kansas are currently working on similar bills. At the national level, lawmakers passed the Take It Down Act last year, making it a crime to share nonconsensual intimate images. But Congress hasn’t given victims the ability to sue in civil court.
