
AI-generated summary
Minnesota had enacted the first statewide ban on AI-generated nude images to combat the spread of abusive deepfakes, particularly those generated by AI products like Grok. xAI sued the law, arguing it violated freedom of speech under the U.S. Constitution.
AI deepfakes:
US court stops AI nude photo ban after lawsuit by xAI
Oct 3, 2026, 7:50 a.m. Reading time: 2 min.
xAI boss Elon MuskReuters
A US appeals court is temporarily suspending the first ban on AI nude images in the USA. The trigger was a lawsuit from Elon Musk's AI company xAI. The company cites freedom of expression.
Elon Musk's AI company xAI won a preliminary injunction in a US appeals court on Friday against a Minnesota state law that bans the creation of AI-generated fake nude images. The appeals court in St. Louis temporarily suspended the law with its decision, thereby granting a request from xAI.
Musk's AI company argued the law was unconstitutional because it limited freedom of speech protected by the U.S. Constitution. The law, the first of its kind in the country, prohibits website operators and software developers from allowing users to create realistic images that show intimate body parts of an identifiable person that cannot be seen in an original photograph.
See F.A.Z. articles more often in your search results
F.A.Z. prefer on Google
xAI speaks of “strict protective measures”
A lower court rejected the technology company's application last month. The US state of Minnesota had asked the court not to suspend the law. It aims to combat the spread of child sexual abuse material generated by AI products like Musk's Grok Imagine on a "staggering scale."
xAI, however, stated that the product contains “strict safeguards” against the creation of such images of real people. The company has begun suing users who circumvent its technological protections.
Several countries are currently investigating measures against xAIs Grok. The European Commission announced an investigation in January. There are concerns that Grok could distribute illegal content, including manipulated images. The Irish Data Protection Commission opened a formal investigation into Grok in February. A few days later, French police searched X's offices as part of a separate investigation. Great Britain and Canada also want to take action against sexual images and deepfakes generated with the help of Grok.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The US Court of Appeals will ultimately strike down Minnesota's AI nudity law as unconstitutional.
Possible · Within months
xAI will take legal action against users who circumvent Grok's protections to create deepfakes of real people.
Likely · Within weeks
The Heidelberg AI company Aleph Alpha has published the “Kolibri” language model for applications in public administration and industry. The model is intended to give customers control over the infrastructure and strengthen AI sovereignty in Europe. Aleph Alpha emphasizes German talent and expertise in developing competitive AI models.
In Thuringia, smart glasses with barely noticeable cameras lead to data protection problems in baths and saunas. After an incident in Bad Tabarz, in which a guest shared recordings and later deleted them, no complaint was filed. The Rosenkeller student club in Jena has banned smart glasses to protect privacy. Other institutions are monitoring developments, while NGOs such as HateAid are taking legal action against Meta and eyewear manufacturers.

A US appeals court has issued a preliminary injunction against a Minnesota law that bans the creation of AI-generated fake nude images. The court suspended the law for the time being, following a request from Elon Musk's AI company xAI, which views the law as unconstitutional.

Elon Musk's AI company xAI has won a preliminary injunction in a US appeals court against a Minnesota law banning AI-generated fake nude images. The court suspended the law for the time being because it was believed to violate freedom of expression.
The online services of the Federal Employment Agency are sometimes unavailable due to an IT malfunction. Among other things, unemployment registration is affected. The authority is working on troubleshooting and examining internal and external causes.
The political scientist Claus Leggewie addresses the massive use of space for new data centers in German municipalities. Despite the high expectations for AI and economic growth, the infrastructure raises ecological and social questions.