The Minnesota House recently passed a bill aimed at banning artificial intelligence nudification technology, reflecting growing concern over digital privacy.
Rep. Jess Hanson (DFL – Burnsville) said the legislation would prohibit AI tools that generate nude images of individuals without their consent and give victims the ability to sue those responsible.
“No one should have to worry that nude images of themselves can be generated by AI, without their permission, at the push of a button,” Hanson said.
Daniel Orban, a University of Minnesota professor whose research focuses on visualization and computer science, said the rapid growth of AI has outpaced society’s ability to regulate it.
“Technology’s moving so fast and being able to keep up with it is really hard,” Orban said. “We don’t really know what we’re doing.”
Orban said he supports broader conversations around regulating harmful uses of AI, such as using AI to generate explicit photos of a person without their permission.
“I think it’s about time to start asking those questions,” Orban said. “This is one area that is problematic from a lot of moral perspectives.”
Hanson said advocates inspired the legislation after discovering they had been targeted by the technology, often by people they trusted.
“They found there was really no recourse for them,” Hanson said. “It really flipped their lives upside down.”
Orban said accountability should be shared between technology companies and individual users.
“I believe in a shared responsibility,” Orban said. “The people who are making the technology should safeguard it.”
The bill focuses on banning the specific AI feature that enables users to alter images into explicit content.
“What makes this unique is that it addresses the feature itself,” Hanson said. “We believe taking away that tool is the most important part.”
The provision is critical, Hanson said, because victims often experience lasting emotional and reputational harm.
“Image sexual exploitation is sexual abuse,” Hanson said. “It does leave lasting scars.”
Christopher Terry, a professor of media law at the University, said the bill may face challenges in practice.
“The intent of the bill is great,” Terry said. “The execution is probably going to leave a little bit to be desired.”
Terry said the bill focuses less on preventing images from being taken and more on what happens after.
“People can take pictures in public spaces,” Terry said. “The issue becomes when that image is altered into something explicit without consent.”
Terry said this approach is meant to prevent misuse, but does not fully eliminate it.
“It creates a deterrent,” Terry said. “It’s far easier for laws like this to be upheld now than it has been in the past.”
Still, Terry questioned whether the law would be effective in practice, noting the gap between technological speed and government response.
“Tech moves at the speed of light,” Terry said. “Government moves much slower.”
Hanson said keeping pace with fast-moving technology is challenging, adding that early action is necessary.
“This bill is an example of the kinds of things we can do to get ahead of the trend,” Hanson said.
