Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 3
Harry and Meghan Condemn xAI Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 65-0 AI Deepfake Ban
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 3

Harry and Meghan Condemn xAI Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 65-0 AI Deepfake Ban

2 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 3

Summary

  • Minnesota's first-in-the-nation ban on AI "nudification" drew a sharp rebuke from Harry and Meghan after xAI sued to stop it, with the couple accusing Big Tech of enabling predators targeting women and children.
  • xAI filed the suit last week, arguing the law goes beyond blocking sexualized AI content and may violate free-speech protections, even while acknowledging the state can restrict such misuse.
  • Grok's "Imagine" feature has faced scrutiny for generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes, a risk the Sussexes said companies are downplaying to protect their bottom line.
  • A federal judge on July 31 denied xAI's request to block the law for now and set an Aug. 19 hearing on whether to grant a preliminary injunction.
  • The statement extends the couple's yearslong campaign on online safety, including warnings about social media's harms to children and calls for stronger platform protections.

Insights

Will Minnesota's massive financial penalties finally force AI giants to prioritize safety, or will free speech lawsuits dismantle the ban?
As deepfakes traumatize millions globally, can state-level laws actually stop digital predators, or are tech platforms too powerful to regulate?