Age of Consent

Age of Consent

2017, Sexuality  -   29 Comments
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Ratings: 6.81/10 from 118 users.

Social media has become a breeding ground for the modern sexual predator. But it's also provided a platform by which investigators can pinpoint and apprehend these deviants. Justin Payne isn't a professional law enforcement officer, but he's made it his mission to rid his community of this abhorrent element. The hard-hitting documentary Age of Consent, produced with unflinching honesty by VICE News, introduces us to his controversial form of vigilante justice.

In the moonlit parking lots of Toronto's suburbs, Justin and his cameraman Gerry bury their heads in their cell phones. Together, they work to spark the interest of pedophiles by pretending they're young children between the ages of 11 and 14. The texts they exchange with these grown men inevitably turn flirtatious. Graphic photos are requested, connections are furthered through phone conversations, and face-to-face meetings are arranged.

Once they arrive at the meeting site, Justin and Gerry angrily confront each potential predator with the overwhelming evidence they have collected through phone calls and texts. They don't have the authority to initiate an official arrest, but they record each confrontation and post the resulting "gotcha" videos online for all to see. By shaming these offenders-in-waiting, the vigilante duo hopes to raise public awareness and thwart future instances of pedophilia in their community.

The police are well aware of their crusade, and look upon any attempts at operating outside of the law as more of a hindrance than a benefit. The community, however, seems to have embraced their efforts for the most part.

Seasoned throughout the film are the insights of Dr. James Cantor, a leading expert in the psychology of the pedophile. We learn that an unseemly attraction to children is usually the result of a cerebral anomaly that most pedophiles share.

We also discover what makes Justin tick. Growing up in a troubled and lonely environment, and finding himself the victim of constant bullying from an early age, he feels a special kinship towards those who undergo extreme abuse and isolation.

His quest to hold abusers accountable is littered with stomach-turning moments of despair and inhumanity. We hear him assume the identity of a young boy, and speak to one predator after another on the phone. The film pulls no punches by including every graphic detail of these calls.

Age of Consent is a tough watch, but it depicts a reality we can’t afford to ignore.

Directed by: Shawney Cohen

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Svend Tveskaeg
Svend Tveskaeg
9 months ago

Weird, that pedo's rights weigh heavier than childrens right to be free of them...

SayTin
SayTin
1 year ago

I understand why they tend to be angry but anger has never walked side by side with balanced thinking, sure we all can be out there and say we do this for the kids but how is exposing anybody help the kids. driving a label with such emotion has dried up any study's on the subject matter since so many were just you must be like them if you don't want to join in with pitch forks and rope with a tall tree. I wonder what trauma was going on in our founding fathers time since age of consent was 10 yo

Tim H
Tim H
1 year ago

These so-called anti-pedo vigilantes are only trying to mask their own pedo tendencies. They truly are the worst types. And why are the majority of them in the drug trade?

Virginia
Virginia
2 years ago

According to Dr. James Cantor we are failing the pedos? Sorry but never heard of a cured pedo, use them instead of animals for testing. They only ever get a slap on the wrist and their victim suffers forever

Generaldelivery
Generaldelivery
3 years ago

This is a very human story. The good. The bad. Pedo. This guy operates in the fringe areas of the law. If he builds convictable cases without breaking the law, he’s by definition not a vigilante rather a good citizen risking life and limb, without compensation nor criminal immunity were he official land enforcement. Citizens Arrests are not against the laws per se either. Moreover, the protagonist does not infringe nor intent to the suspect’s liberty of movement, something the police do when they arrest one. Merely, he is publicizing real content and it’s his freedom to do so. What would be dangerous would be to not have a code. Without one, without say street Due Process, the innocent are more likely to have the state revoke a citizen’s sacred liberty, namely : imprisonment.

Ab
Ab
5 years ago

This is a disgusting. Like he's doing this solely out of the goodness of his heart. Meanwhile he capitalizes everytime a uploaded video is watched. A "go-fund-me"page like he doesn't make enough from YouTube. I would like to point out. Everything that:spresented by him is threw him. He could manipulate anything he wants. So everyone that thinks this is justified, imagine how you would feel considering he's your judge and jury! He's a fucking parasite! Preying on these alleged pesos... He went fishing for and capitalizing on destroying their lives. We have the police and a justice system to handle. These antics have lead to the loss of life. Maybe consider the big picture before supporting something of this nature. So many variable that could go wrong no one should be allowed to take this into their own hands. Besides these guys are simply guilty of showing up. So many people behave differently when behind a computer. None of them have actually broken a law. BECAUSE TECHNICALLY THEIR NOT ENGAGING WITH A CHILD!!!

Big Tony
Big Tony
5 years ago

Most sex vigilantes are virtue signaling because they secretly want to be pedos.

JD
JD
6 years ago

Well, in reading these comments, I have become more intrigued to watch this doc. However, the string of comments are definitely worth saying something about. I agree, in most cases, vigilantism has had a poor track record but I think it is because it driven solely by passion that sometimes incorporates misinformation, biases, which have led to incriminating the wrong person. I'm assuming (because I haven't watched it yet), this type of vigilantism is using techniques to obtain proof. It is an great deterrent for those who are considering in pursuing sexual advances on minors. I believe that in many respects, our society has created our own havoc. Hans has a lot of valid comments wrt the treatment of teenagers. I mean, it really depends on the teenager and their maturity level. Many children are sheltered from the realities of "life" and how to survive in this world, and frankly, I don't get it. It's really counter-productive with developing a well functioning, well informed adult. I mean, 18 is the written age of consent, however shouldn't this be realistically treated on an individual bases depending on the maturity of the individual? Perhaps society judges far too much for it's own good? The well generalized comment by Hans about men and sex is a bit harsh, but at the same time mournfully true. I'm sure this is due to the primal drive to reproduce and appeal for young fertile women. Certainly doesn't say much about men and evolution, but whatever. Michael, you just seem like an angry person. Maybe even guilty and redirecting blame on those who are trying to help others who are incapable or too ignorant to help themselves. Like I wrote, I haven't seen this yet but I'd imagine that these guys would appear creepy maybe because they have to act a certain part in order to lour the bate. I don't know, cops do the same when they go undercover or had to hurt/kill someone in order to gain the trust of their target. Who the f*ck knows. How can I judge with knowing so little? All I know is these kids are trying to correct a wrong, sharing the awareness, and should be supported. As for society.... stop bubble-wrapping kids!!!! it's not doing anyone any good!!!

Pandy
Pandy
6 years ago

Theses guys are just as creepy as the pedos they are chasing. You want to help, join the police. Instead, they get off by pretending to be kids and then confronting these sickos, making themselves out to be some kind of knights in shining armor... only in America.

Michael
Michael
6 years ago

Justin Payne is nothing more than an undercover CHILD MOLESTER! There is nothing amazing about what he does. He gets his rocks off by pretending to be little boys and girls so he can act the part while getting random photos of child porn that he can use later to masturbate to. Believe when I tell you, in my opinion, that people like Justin Payne are NOT in this game for the honor, they do it because they are closet child molesters trying to find a way to practice they're pedo-desires and still remain legal - meanwhile we're the suckers for trusting them.

George Lincoln Rockwell
George Lincoln Rockwell
6 years ago

right. on. you sold me on the end.. this fu*kin degenerates losers need to face justice!

Sebastian
Sebastian
6 years ago

I think it's a good thing that someone is there to get rid of sexual predators looking for young kids. When you see other documentaries of kids being sold on the internet as prostitutes and stuff like that this is a way of getting people with wrong values back in normal working order !

bobby
bobby
6 years ago

In regards to the comment above by "Napoleon". Google "age of consent"
At the beginning of the 20th Century the age of consent was somewhere around 10 years old. Why don't we just raise it to 45? That would solve everything. Or better yet have our fathers jailed for having sex with our mothers. Really?

katt
katt
6 years ago

Justin is the best !!! so awesome, so Canadian ..
He has a "go-fund-me " type site, cant recall the site atm. but he has a live blog video about it on his youtube page
"The Paynefull Truth"
lots of his videos there too. love it when he says " now is the part when i jump on the moving car" , as the predators speed away.

Marie
Marie
7 years ago

Interesting that the Dr. Cantor did not mention the success rate to cure a pedophile; it is less than 3%. I applaud these guys for what they are doing and the police should be backing them up!

Anthony sciuto
Anthony sciuto
7 years ago

so far in the history of humans, vigilantism has a poor rate of sucsess, hunting witchs, gays all it will do is drive the need in the shadows, where we learn nothing of who, why or how to do anything, in fact, what about the countless times they pretend and entice someone that decides to just hang-up and push themselves on to a daughter, are they not somewhat to blame.

Mark Gaboury
Mark Gaboury
7 years ago

Notice that most of the culprits are of middle-eastern or east Indian ethnicity. That doctor is suspiciously pro-pedophile, and his body language gives him away. No surprise at all that he is gay.

Carol Crabtree
Carol Crabtree
7 years ago

Good job man. It's funny Dr. Cantor said vigilantism never works, well, it never works because the cops shut it down. Maybe it DOES work if it's allowed to continue.

menckensman
menckensman
7 years ago

This appears to be a case of 'good intentions' by someone very immature, overly emotional, and ill suited [intellectually/emotionally] to handle such serious affairs. And for Christ sake man, first wash your filthy clothes, learn how to wear a cap properly, and then get your own life in order.

Hans
Hans
7 years ago

People like these are just as wrong in what they're doing as when police officers hold drug sting operations. They're creating crime, and that in itself should be punished harshly.

You're an idiot if you think that a 17 year old should receive (or even deserves) the same protection as a 7-year-old. At 17 you're virtually an adult compared to at only 7 (most other societies actually realize that). There are 15-year-olds (especially girls) who themselves are sexual predators, at least in my country.

Age of consent at 23? Are you insane? Sounds like a fundamentalist Christian who thinks that children are the property of the parents. Even 18 is unrealistically high. Ask teenagers themselves. Teenagers have their own lives, no matter what reactionary politicians and lawyers say. The establishment lives in the 1950s when it comes to sex.

It's just sex, it's not worse than that. We're not talking white slavery or torture. The general public's view has been incredibly distorted by feminists who see older teenagers as competition. And rightly so. The average modern woman has already become untolerable in her mid 20s, so why not have a bit of teen sex here and there? You're not getting any from your wife anyway. Instead of jailing men for a biological need, women should get themselves a personality and not think that marriage means that the man takes care of her and she doesn't have to do anything, but give a little bad sex every two months.

Christopher Halfmann
Christopher Halfmann
7 years ago

this man is a hero. And if he has a PayPal account to send money to that to help him continue his goal which I guess is retribution.

NAPOLEON
NAPOLEON
7 years ago

The age of consent should be increased to 23 years. If you disagree, you should be castrated and boiled alive.

Eddie
Eddie
7 years ago

The police should do what Lee Iacocca advocated during his tenure at Chrysler...lead...follow...or get out of the way.

Frank
Frank
7 years ago

Protect children!! Put the pigs in jail or hang them !!!

Eddie
Eddie
7 years ago

These two should get a civilian award for their work. Children should be protected by adults...not VICTIMISED by them.

Where do I sign up to sponsor these guys ?

Janine
Janine
7 years ago

What amazing guys you are! Its sad that police are so caught up with protocols but helping protect children is one of the most important things you could ever do. You may not get arrests from your work BUT paedophiles think twice because of you. The future for many kids has changed because of your actions although you will never know who. You do what we would all like to do but don't. Thankyou for caring so much but don't hurt yourselves in the process.