A Minnesota Republican lawmaker is facing renewed online backlash after casting the lone vote against a bill targeting AI-generated nude images, including sexually explicit images made from pictures of children. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has signed the bill, but the lone Republican voter who opposed it has nevertheless gone viral for his stance.
The Minnesota House passed HF1606 by an overwhelming 132-1 vote. The bill, sponsored by Democrat Rep. Jessica Hanson, would prohibit people from accessing, downloading, or using websites, applications, software, or other services that use “nudification” technology to create non-consensual explicit images or videos. Advertising such services would also be prohibited, while victims would have a legal avenue to pursue those responsible.
Republican Rep. Drew Roach, however, cast the only vote against the measure. Roach did not defend AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Instead, he argued that the legislation focuses too heavily on software companies and technology rather than the people who create and distribute abusive material.
“The material disseminated using nudification technology is ‘disgusting’ and ‘vile,’” Roach said, according to the bill’s coverage. However, he argued lawmakers should focus on prosecuting perpetrators “with the full force of the law.” Roach also questioned whether the bill could actually stop someone who knows how to create AI-generated nude images without relying on a commercial nudification service.
Hanson pushed back, saying the legislation addresses the creation of harmful content while noting that existing laws are not strong enough to catch many offenders. She said AI nudification technology has empowered sexual predators and has caused serious harm to women and children. Regardless, the federal court has stepped in and paused the AI “nudification” ban despite Walz’s signature.
People Online Are Questioning Those Who Oppose the Bill
Online reactions focused heavily on the fact that Roach was the sole lawmaker to vote against the bill. Some have also accused Roach. “There’s always a Republican. On a bill this simple, people should know his name,” one commenter wrote. Another posted, “A pedophile voted no, go figure,” while another said, “Who the actual [expletive] is voting no??”
Others questioned why such legislation needed to be debated at all. “Why does this need to be voted on? Shouldn’t it be common sense,” one user wrote. Not every reaction was purely partisan. One commenter said AI child abuse is “disgusting and should be stopped,” while arguing that lawmakers should show the same urgency toward real-world predators.
The controversy surrounding the law continued after it took effect. Elon Musk’s AI company xAI sued Minnesota, arguing that the statute violated the First Amendment, and in October the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked enforcement while the appeal proceeds.
The law had previously survived an attempt to halt enforcement in a lower court. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office said it strongly disagreed with the appeals court’s decision and would continue defending the law, which allows victims to seek damages and can impose civil penalties of up to $500,000 on companies that create nonconsensual sexualized images using AI.
