Elon Musk's X Challenges Minnesota's AI Deepfake Law on Free Speech Grounds
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Musk's X sues to block Minnesota 'deepfake' law over free speech concerns
WILMINGTON, Delaware, April 23 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's social media platform X sued Minnesota on Wednesday over a state law that bans people from using AI-generated "deepfakes" to influence an election, which the company said violated protections of free speech. The law replaces social media
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Elon Musk's X sues to overturn Minnesota political deepfakes ban
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- X Corp., the social media platform owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, is challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota ban on using deepfakes to influence elections and harm candidates, saying it violates First Amendment speech protections. The company's federal lawsuit filed
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Elon Musk's X sues to overturn Minnesota political deepfakes ban
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- X Corp., the social media platform owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, is challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota ban on using deepfakes to influence elections and harm candidates, saying it violates First Amendment speech protections. The company's federal lawsuit filed
[4]
Elon Musk's X sues to overturn Minnesota political deepfakes ban
MINNEAPOLIS -- X Corp., the social media platform owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, is challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota ban on using deepfakes to influence elections and harm candidates, saying it violates First Amendment speech protections. The company's federal lawsuit filed this
[5]
Musk's X Sues to Block Minnesota 'Deepfake' Law Over Free Speech Concerns
WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) -Elon Musk's social media platform X sued Minnesota on Wednesday over a state law that bans people from using AI-generated "deepfakes" to influence an election, which the company said violated protections of free speech. The law replaces social media platforms'
[6]
Musk's X sues over Minnesota deepfake law
Elon Musk's social media platform X filed a suit Wednesday over a Minnesota law prohibiting the sharing of "deepfake" videos to influence an election, alleging it violates free speech. In the complaint, filed in federal court in Minnesota, X argues the law will "lead to blanket censorship,
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Elon Musk's X Sues to Overturn Minnesota Political Deepfakes Ban
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- X Corp., the social media platform owned by Trump adviser Elon Musk, is challenging the constitutionality of a Minnesota ban on using deepfakes to influence elections and harm candidates, saying it violates First Amendment speech protections. The company's federal lawsuit filed
[8]
Elon Musk's X sues to block Minnesota 'deepfake' law over free speech concerns
The law replaces social media platforms' judgment about the content with the judgment of the state and threatens criminal liability if the platforms get it wrong, according to the lawsuit that was filed in Minnesota federal court.Elon Musk's social media platform X sued Minnesota on Wednesday over
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X Fights Minnesota's Deepfake Law, Citing Free Speech Violations
Adding to its list of ongoing lawsuits, social media company X (formerly Twitter) has filed a legal challenge against an anti-deepfake law in the US state of Minnesota. The law in question regulates the use of deepfakes during elections. X argues that this law violates its rights and its users'
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X Corp., owned by Elon Musk, has filed a lawsuit against Minnesota's ban on using AI-generated deepfakes in elections, citing First Amendment concerns and potential censorship of political speech.
X Corp. Sues Minnesota Over AI Deepfake Law
Elon Musk's social media platform X has filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, challenging a law that prohibits the use of AI-generated deepfakes to influence elections
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. The company argues that the law violates First Amendment protections and could lead to widespread censorship of political speech.The Controversial Minnesota Law
The Minnesota law, enacted in 2023, imposes criminal penalties, including jail time, for disseminating deepfake videos, images, or audio within 90 days of a party nominating convention or during early voting periods
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. It defines deepfakes as AI-generated content so realistic that a reasonable person would believe it's authentic.X Corp.'s Legal Arguments
X Corp. contends that the law:
- Violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
- Contradicts Minnesota's state constitution
- Is impermissibly vague
- Conflicts with Section 230, a federal law shielding social media platforms from liability for user-posted content
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The company argues that the law would "criminalize innocuous, election-related speech, including humor" and make social media platforms criminally liable for censoring such content
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.Broader Implications and Expert Opinion
At least 22 states have enacted similar prohibitions on deepfakes in elections
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. However, legal experts like Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor, believe the Minnesota law is likely to be struck down. Rozenshtein argues that there's no First Amendment exception for false or misleading political speech, and the law could lead to excessive censorship by social media companies2
.Related Stories
Previous Challenges and Political Response
The Minnesota law has already faced a constitutional challenge from content creator Christopher Kohls and GOP state Rep. Mary Franson. Their case is currently on hold pending an appeal
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.Democratic state Sen. Erin Maye Quade, the law's author, criticized Musk's lawsuit, stating, "Of course he is upset that Minnesota law prevents him from spreading deepfakes that meant to harm candidates and influence elections"
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.X Corp.'s Content Moderation Approach
X Corp. argues that its existing features, such as "Community Notes," "Authenticity Policy," and "Grok AI" tool, provide sufficient safeguards against misinformation
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. The company has also challenged similar laws in other states, including a 2024 California political deepfakes law that has been temporarily blocked by a judge2
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