#008: Stopping Deepfakes or Silencing Speech? Musk and Minnesota Face Off

Minnesota’s Deepfake Law

In 2023, Minnesota passed a law that makes it a crime to share AI-generated deepfakes meant to deceive voters in the final stretch before an election. The law focuses on synthetic content like fake audio, video, or images, that could mislead people about what a candidate said or did within 90 days of voting.

Violations come with real consequences: fines, possible jail time, and a clear message that the state wants to draw a legal line between political spin and machine-made lies. Minnesota is one of at least 22 states to take action on election deepfakes, part of a growing push to regulate the wilder edges of AI before it shapes real-world outcomes.

Musk’s Opposition

On April 23, 2025, X Corp. filed a federal lawsuit against Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, arguing that the law violates the First Amendment and risks sweeping up too much legitimate speech (²).

The company claims the rules are too vague, too broad, and would unfairly punish social platforms for user-generated content. They also point to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from liability for user posts, arguing that the Minnesota law tries to sidestep that protection.

Minnesota officials say they believe the law will hold up in court, describing it as a focused attempt to stop election deception without crossing constitutional lines. For now, the legal battle is officially on.

Other News

• ⚖️ Colorado Governor Vetoes Social Media Bill, Lawmakers Push Back

  Governor Jared Polis vetoed a bill that would have added new restrictions on how social media platforms handle teen users and addictive features (³). The state Senate quickly responded with a rare bipartisan override attempt, keeping the fight alive.

• 🕯️ Families Hold Vigil Outside Meta’s NYC Office
  Grieving parents gathered outside Meta’s Manhattan headquarters to demand stronger protections for kids online (⁴). The vigil comes as platforms face increasing scrutiny over their role in teen mental health crises and youth suicides.

• 💧 AI’s Thirst: U.S. Government Acknowledges Water Impact
  A new report reveals just how much water is needed to power AI systems, with federal agencies now admitting the environmental cost is far from negligible (⁵). Cooling data centers at scale is already stressing local water supplies in places that can’t afford it.

One of the most frustrating parts of modern phone life is how easily it pulls you away from deep work and distracts you from your goals. Because I thrive on deep work, I’ve tried every trick to protect my focus.

This week, in honor of Earth Day, Forest is turning your focus into something real. If you log 422 minutes of focus time between April 19 and 29, they’ll plant a tree in your honor through Trees for the Future.

Try it out for your next deep work session!

— Siara

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The installation, called the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund Memorial, features flowers, personal tributes, and stories from grieving families who are pushing for stronger protections against online dangers (⁷).

The memorial is part of a broader effort to build momentum for change. Earlier this month, Prince Harry announced that the Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund would award $2 million in new grants to young people advocating for safer digital spaces. This second round of funding will support initiatives focused on social media accountability, AI regulation, and tech education for vulnerable communities.

Hope lives not only in remembrance, but also in the tangible support being given to the next generation trying to shape a safer digital world.

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