 SL2 over F2 as a permutation group

A determinant-one matrix over ${\mathbb{F}}_2$ permutes the three nonzero vectors of ${\mathbb{F}}_2^2$. This group action is faithful because fixing two basis vectors forces the matrix to be the identity. There are $(4-1)(4-2)=6$ invertible matrices, all of determinant one since the only nonzero field element is one, so the action identifies the group with the symmetric group $S_3$. Reduction of integer determinant-one matrices modulo two is onto: $\left(\begin{array}{cc}0& -1\\ 1& 0\end{array}\right)$ and $\left(\begin{array}{cc}1& 1\\ 0& 1\end{array}\right)$ induce two distinct transpositions, which generate $S_3$. Its kernel consists of matrices congruent to the identity modulo two, the level-two principal congruence subgroup.