Minnesota would punish sharing realistic altered intimate images without consent

A person who intentionally creates or shares a covered image would commit a crime. The image must realistically show an identifiable person nude, exposing intimate parts, or engaging in a sexual act that the original image or video did not show. The person must know, or reasonably should know, that the depicted person did not consent to the image's creation or sharing. The person must be identifiable from the image or personal information shown with it. Exceptions cover specified law enforcement, reporting, treatment, commercial, public interest, research, educational, and legal uses, with conditions for some uses. The rule would apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

A person convicted of the crime could receive a felony sentence. These penalties would apply to people convicted of the crime described in the bill. The basic maximum would be five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. If at least one listed aggravating factor applies, the maximum would be ten years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both. Factors include financial loss, intent to profit or harass, maintaining a service to make or share these images, posting an image on a website, certain illegal ways of obtaining the source image, or a prior conviction under specified laws. The penalties would apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.