Are there any safety mechanisms to prevent emergency slides deploying inside an aircraft?
Yes, they can inflate into the cabin. The FAA has been criticized for not taking better action regarding this and several other escape issues. Consider what happened on July 6, 2013 when Flight 214 struck the sea wall while landing...

Here is a direct quote:


  During the crash two of the inflatable chutes deployed into the cabin. The first chute, which blocked the forward right exit, nearly suffocated a flight attendant and was deflated by a pilot with a fire axe from the cockpit. The second chute expanded toward the center of the aircraft near the fire. It trapped a second flight attendant until a co-pilot deflated it with a dinner knife.


When I worked for Continental Airlines, a slide would deploy unexpectedly either while the aircraft was stationary at the gate or while the attendants were opening the door (no fault of theirs). I have never heard of a slide deploying while in flight.