What does “nudify” mean?
The verb that statutes and hearings use for undress apps: its origin, the 2026 Minnesota definition, litigation against such services, and the risks of using one.
What does the word mean?
“Nudify” means to alter or generate an image or video so that it depicts an intimate part not shown in the original picture of an identifiable person. The verb spread with undress apps after 2019 and entered US law in 2026, when Minnesota Statutes §325E.91 defined “nudify” and banned services that offer it, effective August 1, 2026.
| Record | Date | How the term is used | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| US House hearing on deepfakes | March 12, 2024 | Witnesses describe “Nudify or unclothed apps” | Record for federal bills |
| San Francisco City Attorney suit against 16 websites | August 15, 2024 | Complaint targets sites that undress images | First municipal action against the category |
| TAKE IT DOWN Act, Public Law 119-12 | May 19, 2025 | Covers the output as a “digital forgery” | Criminal offense; 48-hour removal from May 19, 2026 |
| Minnesota Statutes §325E.91 (Chapter 72) | Effective August 1, 2026 | Statutory definition of “nudify” and “nudification technology” | Civil penalty up to $500,000 per unlawful use |
Where does the term come from?
The verb spread after the 2019 “DeepNude” episode as a shorter word for the same function. By the March 2024 House hearing witnesses used “nudify apps” as a category name. The technique is the one described in undress AI: segmentation followed by diffusion inpainting.
‘Nudify’ or ‘nudified’ means the process by which an image or video is altered or generated to depict an intimate part not depicted in an original unaltered image or video of an identifiable individual.
— Minnesota Statutes §325E.91, subdivision 1 (Session Laws 2026, Chapter 72), accessed September 3, 2026
How does Minnesota define it in law?
Chapter 72 of the 2026 Minnesota Session Laws, signed May 7, 2026, added §325E.91 “Prohibition on Nudification Technology”. It defines the verb, prohibits offering a service that lets users produce such images of identifiable people, and sets a civil penalty of up to $500,000 per unlawful use, with treble damages for victims.
Other states punish the output rather than the service; state deepfake laws tracks both models with check dates.
Which lawsuits target these services?
The City Attorney of San Francisco sued the operators of 16 websites on August 15, 2024 under California unfair-competition, NCII and child-protection law. Victims have brought civil actions under 15 U.S.C. §6851, which provides $150,000 in liquidated damages. In July 2026 the same office sent demands to app-store operators about apps offering the function under other names.
What are the risks of using such an app?
Three risks stand out in our reviews. Legal: any identifiable non-consenting subject creates federal and state liability, and a minor in the image triggers child-abuse statutes.
Privacy: many services keep uploads for days or indefinitely, which is why the clothes-removal guide records retention terms. Fraud: app downloads offered outside official stores are a common malware vector.
Consent Note
This site is a publisher: it reviews third-party tools and does not create, edit, accept or store images. Docs entries are general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Minnesota Session Laws 2026, Chapter 72 (Minn. Stat. §325E.91) — Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, accessed September 3, 2026.
- Hearing “Addressing Real Harm Done by Deepfakes” (March 12, 2024) — U.S. House via GovInfo, accessed September 3, 2026.
- TAKE IT DOWN Act, Public Law 119-12 — GovInfo, accessed September 3, 2026.
- Complying With the Take It Down Act — Federal Trade Commission, accessed September 3, 2026.
- 15 U.S.C. §6851 — Cornell LII, accessed September 3, 2026.
- AB 1831 (2024), AI-generated CSAM — California Legislative Information, accessed September 3, 2026.
FAQ
Is “nudify” the same as undress AI?
Yes in substance. Both describe tools that mask clothing and refill the region with a diffusion model. “Undress AI” is the broader search term; “nudify” is the verb that statutes and hearings adopted, and Minnesota also uses the noun “nudification technology”.
Is it illegal to use such an app?
It depends on the subject and the state. Using one on your own photo or a consenting adult is lawful in most states. Any identifiable non-consenting person exposes the user to the TAKE IT DOWN Act and 15 U.S.C. §6851; in Minnesota, from August 1, 2026, the service itself is unlawful.
What does Minnesota’s law prohibit?
Operating or making available a service that lets a user alter images of identifiable people, and knowingly accessing or using such a service inside the state. The penalty is a civil fine of up to $500,000 per unlawful use plus treble damages, enforced by the attorney general and victims.
Which lawsuits have targeted these websites?
The best documented is the City Attorney of San Francisco’s August 15, 2024 suit against 16 websites under California unfair-competition and NCII law. Victims have also sued under 15 U.S.C. §6851; criminal cases have focused on users who produced images of minors.
Are APKs of these apps from third-party sites safe?
No reviewed tool is distributed as an APK outside official channels, and downloads offered under generic names are a frequent source of malware and subscription traps. The reviewed services run in a browser; the Android guide explains which ones offer an official mobile route.
Why does a review site use this word at all?
Because readers search for it and laws now define it. The entry explains the term, its legal status and the risks; it does not name or promote any app carrying the word. Reviews cover services that require consent confirmation and block minors.