Jakarta, July 30 -- Indonesia's Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid warned that extremist groups are increasingly using offers of financial aid and social assistance to recruit vulnerable people online, replacing overt calls for violence with more subtle methods.

Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, Meutya said online radicalization had evolved from explicit hate messages into deceptive outreach designed to gain the trust of potential recruits.

"The violence begins with a helping hand-medical assistance, debt repayment and personal support-followed by promises of welfare," she said.

"Once trust is established, they are led to extreme ideologies," she added.

Meutya said extremist networks increasingly target children a...