Earlier quoted context omitted.
The alternative, giving them a password that gives them read/write access to sensitive systems, would be insane. Subpoena for particular data.
Yeah it's hard to see how any French official would have authority to conduct searches 10 meters beyond French borders, let alone over all of Uber's computers located in dozens of other countries.
Also when the government is really motivated, he can arrested the founders or executives directly (Pavel Durov). Which is what they should do to Netflix execs if they are doing business illegally.