Program trading is strictly controlled by NYSE and maybe the SEC might even take a look at it sometimes...not that they'll ever do anything worthwhile...but NYSE tightly controls it. Their business model depends on it, and when programs REALLY fuck everyone else, there are a lot of people who are very pissed off.
Besides, it's pretty obvious when a program is triggered, so in the unlikely event one did go off when it wasn't allowed to, the offender would then have to say "sorry! I fucked up!" and the authorities will say "bad program traders!!! shame on you!!!" and that'll probably be the end of it.
As you can tell, I'm trying to learn more myself.