Action of nudifying an image of another person made a crime, and criminal penalties provided.
Summary
HF5114 creates a new criminal offense in Minnesota for “nudification,” defined as altering or generating an image or video so that it realistically depicts an intimate part of an identifiable person that was not present in the original image or video. The bill applies when a person intentionally creates such an image or video while knowing, or having reason to know, that the subject did not consent.
The bill classifies this conduct as a felony punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. It adds a new section to Minnesota Statutes chapter 617 and is scheduled to take effect August 1, 2026, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.
Impact
HF5114 would expand Minnesota criminal law by adding a specific offense targeting nonconsensual AI-generated or digitally altered intimate imagery. It would create a new statutory basis for prosecution under chapter 617 and give law enforcement and prosecutors a tool to address deepfake-style sexual image manipulation involving identifiable individuals. The bill would primarily affect people who create or distribute such content without consent, and it would also provide a legal remedy framework for victims of digitally fabricated intimate images.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript, recorded votes, or formal amendments, so there is no documented debate to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill’s caption and text, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and privacy protection bill aimed at preventing abuse of emerging image-generation technology. The absence of recorded opposition or vote history means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the provided materials, but the bill’s purpose suggests a protective, victim-centered policy approach.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues that could arise in discussion include how “nudify” is defined, whether the knowledge standard (“knowing or having reason to know”) is sufficiently clear, and how the law would apply to AI tools, satire, or other manipulated media. Another possible area of concern is the scope of criminal liability for creators versus distributors of such images, but no stakeholder positions are recorded here.