The anti-Muslim Dutch politician Geert Wilders is testing the limits of the Internet.

Promotions for his film purportedly condemning the Koran, that were posted on YouTube in February led the government of Pakistan to block the site in its entirety.

Wilders also created a stir when he announced that he would premier the film on his Web site, fitnathemovie.com, hosted by Network Solutions (best known for its domain name services). Network Solutions suspended fitnathemovie.com, saying that it did so to investigate whether the site's content violated its "acceptable use policy."

Under that policy, material that is "harassing, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar [or is] hate propaganda" is prohibited.

Predictably, on the blogosphere in the United States, Network Solutions is being called a censor and a coward, with scores of posts praising the Internet for its "anything goes" culture. Some are arguing that if Wilders's movie is offensive and prompts violence, so be it - that's the price of Internet freedom.

But do we really permit anything on the Internet? Of course not. Child pornography and child predators are not allowed online. Threats of harm directed at specific individuals are illegal. Certain invasions of privacy are disallowed. And copyrighted text, music and movies may not be posted legally without the owner's permission.

Freedom of speech does not mean that Internet companies have to publish anything others want them to display. Indeed, it would likely be a violation of that freedom to require such publication.

Some may disagree with the decision of Network Solutions and argue that the best way to address the content of Wilder's film is to post an analysis or rebuttal. But Network Solutions is well within its rights not to host content that may set off riots around the world and cause emotional turmoil.

Debating differing ideas is one thing, but when one side of the debate becomes so mean-spirited, so hateful, and so hurtful that riots are the result, it's time for Internet companies to set boundaries.

One might hope that the Wilders episode will start a discussion of what to do about hate content on the Internet.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.