Alex Jones goes to Twitter and Facebook hearing to shout at senators and pretend to be a 'Russian bot'

The conspiracy theorist yelled homophobic abuse as he attempted to disrupt the hearings

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones yelled at senators and did a bizarre performance of pretending to be a robot as he arrived at the Senate grilling of Twitter and Facebook bosses.

Facebook and Twitter both sent representatives to the grillings, which are intended to cover issues such as election meddling and accusations of bias on the platforms.

But Mr Jones threatened to overshadow them as he arrived, and yelled at passersby. He shouted homophobic insults at senators and made bleeping noises as he walked around corridors, after taking his seat at the front of the hearings.

Mr Jones has become a difficult figure for social networks such as Facebook. Twitter, whose CEO Jack Dorsey attended proceedings, is the only major platform to have chosen to allow Mr Jones to continue publishing on it.

He appeared to suggest that he was attending the meetings in part as a response to those bans, which he has claimed are part of a conspiracy to censor him.

Mr Jones livestreamed his arrival at the event through Twitter. Large parts of it were difficult to follow or indecipherable, but he shouted a number of insults as well as making strange remarks towards the camera.

"I'm here to face my accusers," he barked to no one near the beginning of the break, which he used as an opportunity to begin a livestream.

"Stop violating the first amendment," he yelled at one senator. Shame on you, you un-American tyrant."

He then went on to launch a homophobic rant towards Marco Rubio, and began a bizarre performance in which he joked about Russian interference in the election.

"Beep beep beep beep I'm a Russian bot beep beep beep beep," he said, waving his arms.

The livestream came to an end when the hearings began again. Mr Jones made his way back into the chamber but the person filming on his behalf was now allowed in while using a camera.