There are no rules or regulations about it. Additionally, since most people using the Internet are honest and gullible, they'll believe everything they read and will spread it on. The danger that this situation can present depends on the information and on how many people get misled. Misleading information, if serious enough, can lead to fraud. Once again, gullible people are going to believe what they see or hear and will be taken in and will become the victims of these crimes.
Most frauds involve 'get rich quick' schemes, pyramids schemes and consumer fraud.
This type of crime has also become very common and could result in great problems worldwide. Although these cases have been very public, the same thing can occur to any other normal user on the Internet. Recall that once connected to it, your computer is not totally isolated from the others and an experienced programmer or hacker can find the 'hole' to get in. Once in, everything on your PC is vulnerable to snooping, editing, etc. Laws are in effect to protect against crimes like this, but the knowledge of these 'hackers' grows as fast as the technology itself, making enforcement very difficult.