ST. PAUL — Minnesota lawmakers are making headlines with a bold move to address the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
A bipartisan bill aims to ban “nudify” apps and websites that use AI to create explicit images without consent. This legislation is a response to an increasing number of victims, including over 80 women in Minnesota, who this invasive technology has targeted.
“My initial shock turned to horror when I learned that the same person targeted about 80, 85 other women, most of whom live in Minnesota, some of whom I know personally,” Molly Kelly, a Minnesota resident and one of the victims, said.
Kelly’s story has become a call to action for change. The bill, authored by Democratic Senator Erin Maye Quade, proposes significant fines of up to $500,000 for each violation.
Experts in AI law have expressed concerns that the bill may encounter constitutional challenges, especially related to free speech.
While the legislation seeks to prevent the creation of explicit images without consent, critics argue that it could set a precedent for restricting other forms of AI-generated content, potentially leading to broader implications for digital expression.
“It’s not just the dissemination that’s harmful to victims,” Maye Quade explained. “It’s the fact that these images exist at all.”
Experts in AI law have expressed concerns about potential challenges to free speech, while advocates assert that legislation is essential for protecting privacy and dignity in the digital age.
“I was humiliated and very worried that my employer, my colleagues, clients, and neighbors may have seen these images,” Megan Hurley, another victim, emphasized.
The proposed law would require operators of “nudification” apps to block Minnesota users’ access. Developers who fail to comply could face serious penalties.
“This bill requires that these companies have these nudification functions turned off,” Maye Quade stated. “You can still make pictures of people with purple hair; you just can’t make them naked.”
If enacted, the legislation would establish a precedent for other states facing the ethical challenges AI technology poses.
“With the advancement of AI, many things are possible today that might have been unimaginable even five years ago—some good, and some bad,” Maye Quade said.
